Teacher Negotiations Update

On February 2, 2010, the School District filed a Petition for Fact Finding with the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) relative to its negotiations with the Royal Oak Education Association. The filing of this petition follows six (6) meetings with the State appointed mediator, who joined the negotiations in August.

Fact Finding is a process in which a neutral third party appointed by MERC conducts a hearing regarding the issues on which the parties remain apart at the bargaining table. The Fact Finder then issues a written report which normally contains his or her recommendations as to how those issues should be resolved. While the Fact Finder's report is not binding on either party, it often times serves as the basis for an agreement. It is the School District's hope that continued negotiations with the assistance of the State Mediator, along with the Fact Finding process, will result in a fair and equitable contract that takes cognizance of the financial times in which we find ourselves.

A copy of the Fact Finding Petition can be viewed at: Fact Finding Petition

The School District's offer of settlement to the Association, which was presented on January 25, 2010, and covers the 2009-2010, 2010-2011, and 2011-2012 school years, includes the following:

(a). Pay the wage step increase on the existing salary schedule in the 2009-2010 school year for all employees eligible for such an increase (approximately 31% of the teachers), with no other increases in wages for that year;

(b). Freeze those wage step increases in each of the following two (2) years (2010-2011 and 2011-2012);

(c). Base decreases in compensation in the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years upon decreases in per-pupil allowance and categorical funding received by the School District from the State, as well as on work performance, while providing for up to a 1% increase in compensation (depending upon work performance) for any year in which the School District receives at least a $100 increase in perpupil funding received from the State;

(d). Revise the existing MESSA Choices health insurance plan to replace its no-deductible (in-network) and $5 office visit provisions with a $200/$400 annual deductible and a $20 office visit co-pay, with an employee contribution of $112 per month for each month from January of 2010 until these changes can be implemented;

(e). Effective July 1, 2010, cap the School District's annual payments for health insurance at $16,908.00 for family coverage, $15,216.00 for two-person coverage, and $6768.00 for single person coverage;

(f). Have the Association President perform his regular work duties for the entire work day, rather than having him spend two (2) clock hours per day on Association business;

(g). Establish a school calendar for each of the three (3) school years that preserves 180 days of student instruction; and

(h). Eliminate the School District's obligation to contribute days to a sick leave bank that provides paid sick days beyond those earned and accumulated by each individual teacher.

This proposal may be reviewed in its entirety at: Settlement Agreement