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South Butler has no deal

Fact-finding report rejected

JEFFERSON TWP — It's likely back to the bargaining table for the groups negotiating a contract for 168 South Butler County teachers, who have now been without a new contract for nearly a year and a half.

The South Butler County Education Association this week rejected a fact-finding report done by Marc A. Winters that could have set the framework for a new agreement.

Brooke Witt, a Pennsylvania State Education Association representative with the teachers' union, said the group took issue with proposed wage increases and health care modifications, both with the change in health care overall and the increase in monthly premiums.

“What the district had proposed and what the fact-finding report published has huge concessions,” she said.

Witt said with the way wages are proposed, “A lot of people would be going back financially based on the cost shifting.”

And the new health care plan, a Highmark consumer driven plan that would be effective in July 2016, she described as “a very radical change.”

“It's concessionary. It's a cost-shifting plan. Much larger amounts of the health care cost are put back on employees,” Witt said.

The fact-finder recommended a wage increase of 1.2 percent retroactive to July 1, 2014, a 2.8 percent increase effective July 1 this year, and a 4-percent wage increase for each of the three years following.

Monthly employee premium contributions are now $40 for an individual, $45 for an employee with a child or spouse, and $50 for a family, and would remain so through the 2015-16 school year.

Then during the next three years, the plans increase by $10 a month, up to $70 for an individual plan and $80 for a family plan by the 2018-19 school year.

Also, effective July 1 next year, proposed health care would shift from a Highmark plan to a Highmark consumer driven plan.

The teachers' six-year contract expired in June 2014. According to the 8-page fact-finding report posted to the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board website on Friday, district and teachers' union representatives have met about 17 times in the past 21 months to negotiate an agreement. Each side had about 13 outstanding disputes with the contract.

The fact-finding hearing between both parties was held Sept. 18, an executive session was held Sept. 25, and a report was initially issued on Sept. 28.

The school board approved the fact-finding report 7-1 at Wednesday's agenda-setting meeting. Board member James Jones voted no; Dale Fennell was absent.

Nelda Burd, school board president, said the fact-finding report struck a balance between both parties.

“We feel the report was financially responsible and that it was fair to the employees. The critical issues have been the rising cost of health care and PSERS,” which is the Public School Employees' Retirement System, Burd said. “That's what we've been working diligently on.”

She said she was disappointed the teachers' union rejected the report.

District solicitor Tom Breth said a state statute mandates each party vote a second time if one of the parties approves the agreement. However, Brooke Witt, a Pennsylvania State Education Association representative with the teachers' union, said she doesn't expect members to vote differently.

“I would be very surprised if there was a change in sentiment,” Witt said.

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