In a recent letter to the membership, HEA President Joe Cunha provides an update on the status of negotiations and the School Committee’s desire to make up snow days over February and April vacations whether or not we have additional snow days this year.
2/11/2015
Dear Members,
I want to report what occurred at this evening’s negotiation session. The fact that I rather than Ted am writing to you shows that we did not get the chance to negotiate.
Their sole desire was to discuss snow make up days even though I expressed to Mr. Scully earlier in the day that tonight’s session is not about that.
I told the subcommittee members present, Mr. Wood and Mrs. Danehy, Attorney Cox and Mr. Scully that our position echoes what Governor Baker stated; if we use days to bring us beyond June 30 then we of course have to use Saturdays, holidays or vacation days but we’re not there yet. I also stated that February vacation is too close to alter especially since there is no need at the present.
I also reported what our polling today told us about what our members wanted and that it didn’t agree with what Mr. Scully reports he’s told by our members.
Further I expressed that we should create a contingency plan in case we go over the 4 days we have left, including what specifically is meant by “working with” employees who have plans for vacations and how that should be a fair process.
We broke for caucus and when we reconvened Mr. Cox expressed their dissatisfaction with our position. They refused to discuss any contingency plan and got up and walked out over our restatement that February vacation was not an option.
Let me express my appreciation on the promptness with which our polling was carried out. Thank you to all who took part and especially the building reps who did this. I can think of no other year when so much has been put upon our building reps and they come through for you time after time.
The poll showed that a strong majority are against making up days before we hit June 30 so that validates the decision made by the E board to inform the School Committee that February vacation is not an option.
I will send a second Email regarding a general meeting [listed on events page, click here to read that letter] feeling it best to keep these two things separate.
Thank you,
Joe Cunha, President
Haverhill Education Association