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Union tells teachers: 'Work to the rule'
By BARBARA BEHRENDT, Times Staff Writer
INVERNESS -- Frustrated by stalled contract negotiations, the Citrus County Education Association this week asked Citrus County's more than 1,100 teachers to "work to the rule" -- in other words, to avoid any teaching tasks outside what their contract explicitly requires. The unusual move comes several weeks after the teachers union declared an impasse to their contract talks for the current school year. Those negotiations stalled on monetary items including pay raises and a way to correct a salary inequity that affects some veteran teachers. In a flier that union President Terry Flaherty distributed to each school's union representative on Thursday, Flaherty urged teachers to only work the 73/4-hour day required by their contract, and to avoid any performing any duties before or after the regular school day unless they earn a special pay supplement. Teachers were asked to avoid bringing work, including papers to grade, home with them, and to stop scheduling after-school field trips. The teachers also have been encouraged to wear black every Tuesday. "We must show our solidarity," the flier urged teachers. "If anyone asks why you're wearing black, just explain you are working without a contract and you are showing support for your bargaining team. Encourage your co-workers to do the same. You CANNOT get into any trouble by wearing black." The flier also urged teachers to attend School Board meetings, write to their School Board members and to write letters to newspaper editors. "Together we can make it through this," the flier states. "Unions are powerful because of their numbers. The message we need to send to the School Board can be sent through our presence." Ed Murphy, the chief administration negotiator, had not yet seen the flier when contacted by a reporter Friday. "I hadn't heard about it until this morning so I don't have any comment on it," Murphy said. According to recent figures, about 40 percent of the the 1,100 or so teachers are union members. The union negotiates contracts on behalf of all teachers, though. Compliance with the union's call to "work to the rule" is optional for members and nonmembers alike. Flaherty said the union was pushed to take this extreme action because this year's stalled talks were just one case in a continuing pattern in the way administrators treat teachers. "It's the frustration of negotiations being stonewalled year after year, the tactics of the administration team," he said. Flaherty and other union leaders have noted that administrators come to sessions late and refuse to discuss money items until well into the talks. Last year teachers agreed that, in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, they would be willing to take smaller raises. Then the district ended the year with millions of dollars of surplus. "It's a game and we're tired of it," Flaherty said. This year, pay raises are a big focus of the complaints. Teachers were offered $1.7-million for raises and other financial items. But they insist the nearly $1-million required to eliminate a salary inequity caused by the so-called "five-year cap" shouldn't come from that $1.7-million. Some time ago, the district enacted a five-year cap on outside experience, which means teachers are credited, for salary purposes, for only up to five years of the teaching service they performed outside Citrus County. In response to an administration challenge, the union commissioned a study of the district's budget for the past five years. The analysis, done by CCEA's state organization, found millions of dollars that teachers believe can and should be used for raises. But administrators offered no more than the original amount on the table. "We're fed up with having to be out of school for nonproductive negotiations. We're tired of the lies and we're sick of the inaccurate figures," said Flaherty, summarizing the feelings of his negotiating team, whose members, like him, work in the schools. "How much more do we have to take?" Further fueling his annoyance was an appearance this week on a local cable TV show by superintendent David Hickey. As Hickey talked about his hopes for early contract settlements and better relations in the future, Flaherty said he paced his living room floor trying to call into the show and explain his viewpoint: that Hickey's team was the one stalling the talks. Flaherty never got on the air. "He talked about not wanting the district to go into the red. This district is far from going in the red," Flaherty said. "And school employees want nothing more than to be able to settle their contract in a day." "I know both sides are frustrated," School Board Chairwoman Sandra "Sam" Himmel said. "I'm sorry that it came to this. I really am. I know our teachers do work hard and do the best job they can do." While Flaherty said he knew not all teachers would follow the advice to work to the rule, he said he hoped many would. "People get tired of hearing about the money all the time. They need to see see how much of a teacher's own time they give and how much they give out of their pocket," Flaherty said. "Hopefully then the ripples will get to the parents and to the public."
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