FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – The Fresno Teachers Association said at a press conference Friday afternoon that it’s given it’s final counter-proposal to Fresno Unified.
There’s been back and forth between the District and the Fresno Teachers Association over class size, special education, teacher autonomy, hours, salaries and especially safety and discipline -huge issues that the FTA’s bargaining team says they need to be in the contract, but Tish Rice, the FTA’s President says the contract they just got is the same one they just rejected.
Now, the FTA has handed Fresno Unified what they say is their last, best, and final offer.
Fresno Unified released a statement right after the press conference.
“MEDIA STATEMENT FROM INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT BOB NELSON
At today’s session, the District offered a counter proposal to FTA. The District’s counter included a 3.5% salary increase, 90/10 health plan including reducing deductibles, $8.8 million in social and emotional investments, and new language addressing discipline, safety and catastrophic leave.
FTA countered with their last best and final offer. FTA’s offer is essentially the same offer presented to the District on May 31st and March 16, 2017. The three-year cost of FTA’s final offer is over $154 million and constitutes a reduction of FTA’s prior offer by only $100,000 per year for CTE.
With the parties continuing to remain far apart, the District asked if FTA would consider jointly declaring an impasse. This follows 17 collective bargaining and information sessions and would have put both parties in the next phase of the negotiations process where a neutral mediator assists the parties in attempting to come to an agreement. After a brief caucus, unfortunately, FTA declined to take this collaborative action.
The District will proceed with the next steps in bargaining, which will include working through the summer break to find a mutually acceptable resolution.
We are confident that the parties can come to a resolution that allows the District to continue to invest in people and student programs while maintaining prudent fiscal stewardship in the best interest of our students, families, and employees.”
FTA Bargaining Chair Jon Bath says the statement is misleading, and that both sides are heading to mediation and will work through the summer to try and negotiate an agreement. Listen to Bath below.
