The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) has approved a three year teachers contract with the Board of Education that will reach $23.6 million in its last year. The decision was met with disbelief by a vocal minority of mostly Republican legislators who protested the increases in these perilous economic times.
By a vote of 19 to 7, the overwhelming majority of Democrats on the RTM rejected binding arbitration, the one route available to the town to rework a contract of its largest bargaining unit. The contract, which begins July 1, 2009, adds $1 million each year until 2012.
The RTM’s decision surprised top town officials who thought the contract should have been defeated. Connecticut public school teachers do not have the right to strike. Mostly parties avoid binding arbitration because it is costly, unpredictable and removes decision making power from town boards.
First Selectman Unk DaRos, clearly unhappy, disagreed. In an interview, he said if ever there was a year to bring a contract to arbitration, this was the year, especially given anticipated state cutbacks in education and other monetary factors the town faces. He said he believed the current economic crisis would be in the town’s favor.
DaRos, a Democrat, said the contract, with its yearly $1 million rise, will have “a huge impact” on the overall education budget that last year represented roughly half of the town’s $88.4 million budget. He put the Board of Education on notice that it is up to them to make these salary hikes palatable to the taxpayer.
“I expect that Board of Education to come in with creative ways to bring their budget in line with everybody else. They have clear instructions on the town’s side of what I expect. And believe it or not the Board of Education is part of the town of Branford,” he declared. DaRos was alluding to the perception that the town’s top educators and board believe they report only to the state Department of Education and are bound only by state statutes.
DaRos decided it was time to disavow them of these beliefs. The Board of Education, he said, “is a “citizen’s committee, just like every other board or commission. They are supposed to be representing the citizens. They will say you are anti-education and all that, but that is not what we are talking about. We are in difficult economic times right now.”
Maggie Bruno, the new chair of the RTM education committee, gave a comprehensive overview of the contract.
“There was a lot of discussion in our committee about this: today’s economy, how will it be perceived by the public, how will it be handled by the town, what effect it will have on the mill rate, etc., etc. In support of the contract these increases, the gross increases, are in line with other schools that settled their contracts up to the same Branford schools did on Oct. 3.”
However, she added, “contracts settled after Oct. 3rd showed lower contract increases of 3.8, 4.02 and 4.1 percent over three years compared to 4.6, 4.6 and 4.8 percent that Branford agreed to.” Nonetheless, she, like many Democrats who voted for the contract, seemed genuinely concerned about the fairness of the binding arbitration process, and BoE officials tended to fuel this fear.
Anthony Giardiello, the Democratic majority leader, set the stage for the Democrats’ vote. He was the first to address the group after Bruno presented her summary. He said the contract was fair and that binding arbitration was problematic. He said he likes to look at how teachers’ salaries in Branford compare to other towns.
“Our teachers are paid in line and perhaps even a little less than other towns,” he said. All in all, he concluded “the contract is good for the town. I think it is fair. And I support it.” He did not mention the economic crisis.
With budgetary constraints looming, this contract also gives the town’s largest increases to its biggest union, a move that sets a difficult precedent for negotiations with police and fire unions. DaRos and Jim Finch, the town’s finance director, attended the RTM meeting but neither was asked to address the issues.
The Board of Education and the Branford Education Association agreed on the 48-page contract in October, about the time the nation’s economic downfall began. It was signed by both sides on Dec. 17, 2008, when the economic free fall was fully underway.
DaRos observed in an interview that “teachers don’t flee Branford. They come here. They would come to school whether there was a 4 percent or a 4.5 percent hike. I want to see fair contracts that are fair to everyone.” He was referring to the overall salary increases, which is expected to be in the area of an average net 3.5 percent hike assuming insurance and health givebacks take place.
However, the overall increases for 319 teachers at 5 public schools vary depending upon whether a teacher has achieved the top salary step at 14 or he or she is still climbing the steps. There are 166 teachers who are at the top step and they receive the general wage increase. But those 155 moving up in seniority get the general wage increase plus their step increment.
For example, a teacher with a Bachelor’s and Masters degree moving from the 13th to the 14th and final step receives both the general wage increase plus a $6,598 increase in the first year of the contract, a $6,779 increase in the second year and a $4,556 increase in the third year. A teacher with a Bachelor and Masters Degree at the 14th step in 2012 will earn $82,050; more than double what the teacher earned when he or she entered the system.
Several Democratic RTM members pointed out that teachers’ salaries rise over the years, and in fact it would be more expensive to start each of them out at $75,000 or so than it is to reach that goal over 14 years.
The RTM concerned itself generally with salaries. Not discussed were additional monetary incentives that raise those salaries.
For example, according to the contract, the union successfully negotiated a longevity clause that recognizes a teacher’s length of service above and beyond the salary schedule. Teachers with 15, 16, and 17 years of experience get an additional $300; those with 18, 19, 20 and 21 years of service receive $500, and those with 22 years get $700. In addition, department leaders or chairs receive roughly $2,500 more.
Republican Minority leader Frank Twohill, (pictured), who was the RTM’s silent observer at the negotiating table, at first appeared to favor the contract. But he changed his mind over the last few days. First he wanted a legal opinion on the town’s arbitration chances in light of the current economy.
Board of Education Chair Frank Carrano told him at Tuesday night’s RTM education committee meeting that it was impossible to predict an arbitration outcome. Carrano later clarified his view before the RTM. “We did consult with an attorney yesterday who told me there were three key elements: The relative wealth of the community, how Branford’s pay scale compares to teachers in similar communities and the history of past negotiations.”
Carrano (pictured) said Branford was on the wealthy side, indicating the town probably did not stand a chance. Branford may be considered wealthy according to its grand list of real estate, but it is not deemed wealthy based on income. Carrano did not make this distinction.Carrano served as president of the New Haven Federation of Teachers for more than 25 years. He is also Branford’s Democratic town chair.
Twohill also asked Peter Anaclerio, president of the Branford Education Association, if the union would be willing to freeze the salary steps for one year. Anaclerio told the committee he would look into it but later told the committee that the contract had been ratified previously and it appeared unlikely changes could be made.Twohill said he was also concerned by the hefty step increases. “Some of these raises are ten percent. Over three years they are thirty percent or higher.”
Unhappy that he could find no way out, Twohill, an experienced hand in education matters, voted no. He explained to the RTM: “If the budget increase will be zero this year, an increase like this will lead to cuts made of certified staff and Branford has never cut certified staff that I am aware of. Honestly, I hate to vote against the contract, I never have. We have an excellent staff. But if we are to represent our constituents, then I have to think about the taxpayers who fund almost all education costs. I represent those who have elected me. And they are telling me, ‘You can’t vote for it this time, Frank.’”
The lone Democrat who voted with the six Republicans against the contract was Lisa Avitable. She also voted against the town’s contract with its employees. “I will not be voting for this contract for the same reason I voted not to approve the town hall contract and the maintenance workers contract. It has to do with wage increases. I would rather see everybody keep their job than face layoffs when the budget season comes around and there needs to be cuts.”
Dennis Flanagan, the Republican RTM clerk and a longtime RTM member, said: “I am going to vote against it. People in Branford are losing their homes. They are losing their jobs. I cannot honestly sit here tonight and approve these types of increases and pass them on to the taxpayers. I don’t think you are going to find the teachers of Branford making a mass exit from the town. We are likely to get less from the state. It is a tough economy and everybody needs to make sacrifices.”
Republican John Prete outlined the steep increases in the steps. “Some of them get as much as $10,000 in the step increase. And again I have nothing against teachers; I have nothing against paying payroll. I coach at certain schools and I rely on that income obviously. The problem I have is that you are throwing another 3 percent or 3.6 percent at somebody who is getting ten grand already and I’d like to say that as a unit we should put a stop to all this giving, especially now. Things are so bad now that if we stood up, if we stood our ground now and said no to this, then it might make a difference.
“The teachers who are making $84,000 are getting another $2,400 a year. Sixty percent are over the last step. If you vote yes for this that is a big mistake. Somebody has to say no along the way. And it should be us.”DaRos knows the budget season is approaching. He said in an interview that layoffs are a last resort. He made it clear the Board of Education will have to look “at the way they do business. That is what we are doing here in Town Hall.
“I think the Board of Education is part of Branford, and I am talking for them,” he said, clearly stating who he thinks is in charge. “I would expect them to take a really close look on how you do business. They can find a way.” ###
This decision is a stunning disregard for taxpayers and the struggles families in Branford are facing. A teacher's salary, not to mention benefits, is more than most people people make in Branford. Some of these increases with steps represents a 10% pay increase. In fact, these pay packages are more than a lot of families make in Branford. It's all about Greed. And the schools aren't that good either.