Pulaski County Special School District Situation to Date: December 14, 2009

The following is a summary of events concerning the Pulaski County Special School District's (PCSSD) withdrawal of recognition of the Pulaski Association of Classroom Teachers (PACT) and the Pulaski Association of Support Staff (PASS) after 7 month of negotiations. Arkansas Education Association and National Education Association are in complete support of the actions taken by PACT. We are the voice of teachers and believe that great public schools are a shared responsibility. Respect will enhance the results that will help every student succeed in the future.

Sunday, Dec. 6
Members PACT unanimously ratified the terms of a new contract. Members of the School Board’s Negotiation Team and that of PACT have been involved in bargaining a successor contract since April 15th of this year.

Tuesday, Dec. 8
The School Board scheduled a “Ratification Vote” to conclude their part in the Negotiation Process for this date, but instead of voting to ratify their own Board’s Negotiating Team’s Tentative Agreement they instead called a Special Board Meeting for later on in the evening and voted 4-2 to withdraw its recognition of both PACT and PASS as the associations that represent the school district's teachers and support staff. The move was totally unexpected and is a clear violation of the current contract between the Board and PACT.

Those who voted in favor of withdrawing recognition and ignored the current contract language in effect were President Tim Clark, Charlie Wood, Mildred Tatum and Danny Gililland. Those who opposed the move were Bill Vasquez and Gwen Williams. Sandra Sawyer was not present.

PACT President Marty Nix and PASS President Emry Chesterfield criticized the board's lack of preparedness to vote on the tentative teacher’s contract and expressed their complete shock and amazement at the Board’s action.

Wednesday, Dec. 9
During an emergency meeting at 2 p.m., the PCSSD voted to give teachers the salary and benefits which had been agreed to in the tentative agreement of a 2 percent pay raise and to increase the school district's contribution for health insurance for all of the district's employees.

Later that evening, PACT members voted to hold a one-day "fair treatment" walkout on Thursday, Dec. 10. Nix faxed Acting Superintendent Rob McGill a letter informing him of PACT's intent. The letter stated:

"The purpose of this action is to show unity because the school board withdrew PACT's recognition on Dec. 8, 2009, without cause and/or justification. We are providing you with this advance notice as a courtesy so that the district will have an opportunity to take appropriate steps to minimize any impact that this action may cause on the students and the patrons."

The language of the current contract states that the terms of an existing contract remain in effect until a new contract is agreed upon and signed by both parties. However, the board reneged on the terms of the existing contract when they withdrew recognition of PACT and PASS, along with those groups' ability to negotiate with their employer.

During the meeting, PACT members also gave Nix the authority to call a full strike at any time she deems necessary.

Thursday, Dec. 10
PACT engaged in a one-day Fair Treatment Walkout on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009 to show unity following the school board's decision. Of the nearly 1,300 Districts teachers, close to 700 PACT members took an "accrued leave day" to participate in the walkout. Several hundred picketed at the PCSSD administration building on Dixon Road in Little Rock for about an hour, then convened at AEA headquarters for further discussion of the situation.

The PCSSD issued a memo which included the following points:
• The PACT contract 2006 - 2009 will continue to remain in effect.
• PASS employees will continue to follow board policy.
• All contracted employees of PCSSD will receive a 2% raise, retroactive to July 1, 2009. The retro amount will be paid prior to Christmas Break.
• An additional increase to employee benefits to equal $127.68 (an increase of $30.40) to be applied to any insurance benefits available through payroll deduction will be effective January 1, 2010.
• Those employees absent from their job duties due to participation in job action events will not be paid for the day.
• One the third (3rd) accumulative day absent due to participation in job action events, the employee will be treated as having voluntarily terminated their employment effective as of the third accumulative day.
• Both certified and support staff employees will form a personnel policy committee in compliance with Arkansas State Law.

Thursday evening, the PASS membership voted not to take any job action at this time but to offer any other support they could for the members of PACT.

Friday, Dec. 11
PACT members returned to work as President Nix had indicated they would in her notification to the Superintendent.

The PCSSD school board held an emergency meeting at 3 p.m. According to the press release, The purpose of the meeting was:
• Preparation and possible action for a potential employee job action
• Discussion and possible action toward substitute pay.

During the meeting, the board voted to increase substitute teacher pay in the event of a strike, hire 20 permanent substitute teachers and give a $50 bonus to every teacher who reported to work during Thursday's walk-out. Another clear violation of the current contract which the Superintendent said was still in effect.

PACT is exploring all options to resolve this matter including legal action against the school district.

Tuesday, Dec. 15
PACT Rep Council Meeting
PACT files Lawsuit for Breach of Contract and Mandatory Injuction with Circuit Court
Teachers meet at the AEA building. Members will not rule out any options to resolve irrational decision to withdrawal recognition.

Arkansas Education Association and National Education Association are in complete support of the actions taken by PACT. We are the voice of teachers and believe that great public schools are a shared responsibility. Respect will enhance the results that will help every student succeed in the future.

If you are interested in more information contact PACT at (501) 374-4955

Visit http://www.pwp2009.blogspot.com/