HCCSC Files Unfair Labor Practice Suit
By Lamont Neal on Thursday, October 13th, 2011 |
HCCSC has worked in recent years to balance our budgets in a declining
revenue environment. Early this year, the Board took difficult steps in
that direction, steps which reduced nearly $2 million in annual costs.
That would have been almost sufficient to reach balance, but this year’s
enrollment decline will leave us approximately $1.2 million short despite
wage and benefit reductions by administrative staff and non‐teacher
employees.
The Indiana legislature passed laws this year significantly changing the
bargaining environment with teacher unions. Among other things, the
new laws prohibit entering into any wage and fringe benefit contract
with teacher unions that results in a general fund deficit, prohibit the
paying of automatic raises based on seniority, and declare void any
bargained agreement which causes such a deficit.
Despite the reality of our funding and the new state laws, the state
teacher’s union through our local association has filed suit in Huntington
Circuit Court claiming an entitlement to a wage increase. We believe
that suit is an attempt to circumvent bargaining and get around the new
laws. As a result, we have been compelled to file a complaint with the
state labor board, the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board,
for bad faith bargaining and violation of the new laws. Copies of that
complaint are available.
It is very unfortunate that we must spend significant money to defend
the union’s baseless claims, money that would otherwise be available
for our teachers. However, we have no choice but to balance our
budget and follow Indiana law.
Comments...
Heidi Miller posted on October 17th, 2011 @ 15:16:07The new laws do not have the benefit of years of precendent in their favor. The local teacher's union disagrees with the corporation's interpretation of the new law. With no precedent to fall back on, they were forced to ask a court of law to intervene and offer a legal interpretation of the new laws.
Quick to blame the union as having baseless claims, the corporation would have everyone believe they are in deficit finance, when that is not clear.
All schools are short on money right now. The union has not asked for a raise. They understand the shortfall. Last year, the union even rolled back their annunity payments and their salary by giving back two days of work. The corporaiton was unwilling to bargain until now, because they wanted to benefit of limiting bargaining to wages and benefits, alone. With that comes the responsibility of being a "guinea pig" for the new laws.
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