NOVEMBER 6, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Despite recent optimism that contract discussions between the Ridgewood Board of Education (BOE) and Ridgewood Education Association (REA) could conclude in the near future, the process seems to have ground to a halt once again.
This past week’s BOE meeting featured a series of events that have become standard: opening remarks were made; a couple of presentations took place; and then public comments opened up, with various members of the REA coming to the microphone to have their say. While not all of the comments were related to the negotiations, the majority were.
After the public comments, Sheila Brogan, president of the board, read from a prepared statement, explaining that the talks between the REA and BOE had slowed once again, and that even with the state-appointed mediator, no agreement could be hammered out.
“As has been the case since the parties’ first meeting back in February 2015, when the association declared an impasse, the main issues have been negotiating the levels of employee share of health care premiums, the cost of premium and type of plan and fair salary increases while staying within what the board feels the taxpayers can support,” Brogan said.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/fact-finder-returns-in-february-1.1449843
Teachers should pay a portion of there health care just like everyone in private industry they are all vey well compensated.
Typical, the REA is more concerned about health benefit contribution levels than the kids. Despite benefit reforms that should have started in 2011 requiring higher contribution amounts for health benefits, the REA continues to drag its feet on negotiating the levels of employee share of health care premiums, the cost of premium and type of plan. The longer they go without a new contract, the longer Ridgewood taxpayers don’t see any savings from the legally mandated higher health benefit contributions from BoE employees. This is all about greed, the REA is proving that time and again.
Give them the bottom rung Obama care that the rest of us in the real world are stuck with.
If they want their Cadillac plan they can pay the difference.
Take the deal…or strike, there is a long line of competent teachers willing to take your place for less money.
Plenty of recent grads from Teachers College at Columbia who would happily take these jobs – given how fast our school rankings have fallen, maybe we need wholesale change anyway? Our taxes certainly haven’t declined and most private sector employees contribute 20-25% towards our own healthcare which would be considered Bronze level under ACA definitions (coverage for only 80-84% of the actuarial value of the plan). Teachers get Platinum plans that cover 96% of the actuarial value of the plan and Village taxpayers cover all of the annual increases in premiums. It’s time to face reality REA, otherwise we’ll replace your members with people who really want to teach in our schools and can focus on that instead of worrying about their health benefit contributions and types of health plans.