How manyWestford teachers attended?

I still cant believe that WEA leadship who I have fought for/with all year for a 'fair contract' would even dare to bring back a 'offer' from the town with ZERO COLA for 3 years (while most of our neighbors get about 6%) and the step that should have been paid at the start of year 1 to be paid at the END of year 3 (meaning at the start of year 4 in paycheck terms) THAT IS A FAIR CONTRACT?!
I understand that the team is obligated to bring back anything even remotely reasonable but for Pete's sake VP Mary M didnt sounds like she was someone fighting FOR us at all anymore yesterday.
If this offer is brought back to a vote, knowing BOTH cases (ULPs) according to McCusker would vanish, and the town is LIKELY to postpone obligated steps again next time if teachers send the message this is acceptable, it is imperative teachers REJECT this as something other than a 'fair contract'!!!
Mary please please please let your membership see that 'never say die' fighting spirit we know you have and lead us to fighting for the contract we deserve as not one that is jammed down our throats at the end of a year where we are tired and some people will vote for anything if they are told 'best offer'

A great american leader once said 'our lives begin to end the day we are silent about things that matter'
Stand up as a group as say NO together now! We will not be bullied into accepting a deal that demeans and devalues our work by paying us cents on the dollar compared to the comperable districts Westford compares itself to! When the notice Westford was #27 in Mass was sent around recently what you DIDNT see was which which top 30 school pays teachers the least? You ready thats right we are right near the bottom. Teachers arent asking for that gap to be closed (dare we dream BIG right) but rather to have the current substantial gap NOT grow larger. A contract that goes 0%, 0%, 0% with year 1 step paid at the end of year 3 does EXACTLY that, it allows the gap to grow bigger!!
If this really is the best the town can do -even with a reserve fund millions of dollars above what is required to maintain bond rating and were new hire positions are being brought on as we speak- than teachers should wait for the solid probibility of accheving fairness through the court system next spring and NOT through negotiations with the town if this is going to be deemed 'fair' I KNOW this isnt the contract we deserve and I am willing to fight on instead of roll over.

When told of the recent fiscal offer from the town one veteran WPS teacher summed up the offer simply and effectively "I cant help but think they are screwing us with that' The applause went on for nearly a minute in agreement. Most neighboring towns are getting some small raise, Westford teachers get zero for 3 years and are 'lucky' they now get their step from year one at the start of year 4? INSULTING! Dont allow yourself to be walked over like that.
Remember that people can only walk all over the backs of these whose spines are already bent!

When McCusker relayed this 'best' offer I thought for a minute this was the worst offer. If its this blurry between best and worst It seems like teachers are best served by not ratifying any offer of that nature before seeing how the ULP cases play out as the reward more than justifies the small risk of a worse offer later from the town. Westford is running a real risk of falling behind others so drastically that it's ability to recruit and retain great teachers wil be an issue, Westford already is gaining the reputation with perspective teachers as a place were steps may or may not be actually honored.
Accepting a deal like the one presented on the condition of removing the lawsuits would be like the Allies getting to the border of Germany in WWII only to settle for a deal that lets Germany retain its govt, moral of the story: don't bail because the road is long, see it through. Churchill said it best NEVER Surrender

There is a new tentative agreement reached last night and though less insulting than the previous agreement should also be REJECTED as unfair and unacceptable.
Clearly the previous leadership is burnt out and has no fight left in it lets send this back to the table and let our newly elected President have a shot. Last time we rejected an offer called 'best we are gonna get' by member of the negotiations team a better offer did in fact come along (yet to be disclosed but I bet year 1 step is delayed 3 years in payment with 0 0 0 to boot)
Lets not jump quickly at this one just because it's on the table and is better than the last!

I vividly remember negotiations member Mark Quitracchi calling the last offer best possible and that wasn't he case and I agree with Franklin better to be patient and see how the court cases go first before settling for something like this, the lawsuits which would likely help prevent this from happening again in 1-2 years being pulled is the deal breaker in this offer. I do think this was a tough year but I also don't want to rush to settlement to do it all again in a year lets ride this to the end and do it just the once

I have no doubt the negotiations group felt at the time this was the best they could get. However, when you look at the contract in the larger context its not at all a fair contract even if it might be the best this town was going to offer. The Wild Card trump up the sleave of teachers is the cases pending in court in Boston, which means there is no NEED to simply accept the 'best but not fair offer'. A victory at this court would likey mean FULL yearly steps WITH backpay (interest included) AND send the message to the town our contract and past practice mandates steps being paid as an automatic.
In the very unlikely event the town somehow wins in court then will be the time to look into a settle contract that gives teachers MUCH less than deserved but the time for that is certainly not now.

IMO this offer should be voted on next Spring after the ULP cases and seeing as thats not possible and a vote will be scheduled before the end of the year how I will vote is a foregone conclusion. What a shame in a town that has such a stellear educational system that it has all come to this. The residents and students are all first rate. Teachers are NOT hungup on getting rich or big raises, they just dont want to accept a contract that widens the gap which when complared to other towns this one clearly will. Steps should be paid in and on the year they are due. Period. Everything else should be fair game for good faith negotiation but NOT how, if , when steps will be paid. I spoke yesterday with President Toner who agreed fully that it sets a dangerous precident for techers to consent to skipping or putting off by years ANNUAL steps, I wish he felt more free to express this in front of the membership in light of this is exactly the nature of the tentative agreement. Why bring President Toner out when even HE thinks this deal is us setting ourselves up to be taken advantage of again in future negotiations.

The School Committee has violated the previously agreed contract. They are in the wrong and they know it - that is why they are pushing for a settlement. They are hoping they can bully teachers into accepting an unfair offer by creating an environment of intimidation and the uncertainty of having their pay frozen again next year as a punishment for not agreeing to a terrible offer. SC does not have the right to deny previously agreed steps. What they have done is illegal. The teachers in this town should reflect and realize that any contract that manipulates steps is setting precedent for the future. Jodi Ross has said that FY14 will be the worst year of any for the town - and this is the year the town is going to pay 2 steps? What do you think SC will offer that year during contract negotiations? They say there is no money now... and think about how many new positions they will have hired by then. We shouldn't be happy to receive an offer for what we already had... and we should be insulted to receive an offer that is far less. March will be here before we know it. I say bring on the ULPs and let's go to Phase 2. It was said last night: the teachers in Westford have made this school system into one of the best in the country. In return, we have been insulted all year long by the SC. Respect yourselves as professionals and vote NO.

The teachers alone have not made this school system what it is. They are very good and there is no doubt there but the parents and residents have a HUGE hand in that success.

I wouldnt get too excited about this tentative agreement (yet to be confirmed here on the Patch) as its likely to be another repeat of April's excercize in teacher's sending the message that they dont want to have to renegotiate what has already been negotiated in the past (which was to stay in effect from contract to contract, steps) when its rejected. It might not be 75-25% like last time but nearly as many techers will turn out to turn this one down taking a lets wait and see approach. The town is CLEARLY scared of the reality it is likely to loose in court, even the Superintendant has made statements from what I hear at leadership meetings that there is an expectation the town will loose and the SC has asked him to come up with a plan for that now. This while more new hires are comming on board. Think about the YES vote as a version of WEA Bailout Stimulus for the town of Westford's spending habits over the past several years with shortsighted spending with new positions. Teachers shouldnt have to bailout the town and in the end believe that they wont see fit to. No vote is 2 weeks is the prediction here.

Other towns like Groton and Acton, towns around us, can find the money,” said McCusker. “So how can they do it and Westford not, what needs to be looked at?”
(If teachers OK this deal we will never find out will we Mary? Most of our neighbors got 5% COLAs, Littleton did not BUT they got 2 steps the YEAR AFTER skipping one, I ask you your question. What needs to be looked at?)

"You will get the contract you are willing to fight for" well said Joseph well said!

A bit of advised to the delusional members of the WEA. Accept whatever crumbs are thrown your way by the incompetent Westford public officials.
If you force this issue to be settled by an Prop 2 1/2 override, you will lose. Then you will see a 15 to 20% lay off of employees. Attend the 20 June, Strategic Planning meeting being held at Kimball's. You will be see a very bleak economic picture discussed by Ms Ross, Westford Town Manager.
How did we get in this position? Credit card mentality and the way FSF money from the federal government were spent so that programs were grown by $6.5 million/year in the last 2 years. The $6.5 million is equivalent to 11 to 12% of the available tax base.
The voters will be faced with a choice of increasing their taxes by at least 12% and with the additional of the capital exclusion vote, the total hit will be close to 15%.

Jesse
I think teachers want the Massachusetts labor board to settle the issue of town not honoring steps which they are required to do, the court can and will force the town to pay the obligated salary funds, yes, the jobs which were created with stimulus funds which were never sustainable will be trimmed back as they should be. Westford teachers should not be reduced to begging and settling for crumbs in a nationally ranked schools district. Maybe it's time we tell Jim Antonelli we need WAs blue ribbon so we can pawn it to properly pay his staff

Just got an e-mail from Mary McCusker, an agreement has been signed, but no further word yet. Once I get a full and official statement, you'll get it ASAP.

QUESTION:
How can the BOS report for 2010 claim the town 'didnt just survive but thrived' in the down economy and now this sky is falling no money claim?
I went back and read the BOS report to make sure this line wasnt taken out of context. It was not. So either the BOS were untruthful/ completely misinformed back in 2010 or they are completely untruthful/ misinformed now.

WHICH IS IT?

I have heard that the School Committee and Super saw this situation coming 2-3 years ago so I think there is evidence to support one of those two more than the other but to each his own.

Thank you for catching that Thomas, I'll change that now.

I believe the phrase implies that teachers only do activities specifically mandated within a contract, basically the bare minimum of what they have to do. That still means teaching a certain amount of hours, but not working with students on unpaid extra curricular activities or personal touches such as decorating classrooms.

Does anyone have attrition rates (not including retirements) for this past year based on the lack of a contract? I'm guessing that attrition rates (not including retirements) were less than 1%---after all, where else can you get a gig where you work 185 days compared to the average employee who works 240 days? Where else can you find $5 copays? Does anyone know how much a teacher contributes to their health plan? The average worker is contributing 29% of their salary towards health care premiums............Personnally, I think that teachers should be rated on some type of performance measures versus an automatic, guaranteed increase. If teachers moved into the commercial world where the rest of us live, they would be in for a sad awakening.

@ Polly anna,
You can check out the School Committee's meeting packets via the following link:

http://www.westfordma.gov/pages/government/westfordma_meetings/WestfordMA_MinutesandAgendas/packets

Just do a School Committee meeting search by date and you can view the meeting documents. School personnel updates are usually included in the meeting minutes or in an "update" document. The reason for the personnel update is usually included (i.e. FMLA, retirement, resignation, new hire, etc.)
If you look at the Westford Public Schools website, the employment page shows open positions. I've been looking at them fairly frequently, and the open positions usually don't remain posted for very long.

PAST attrition rates will not be very telling as its just this last year bridges have been burned and teachers want out of Westford. It will be 'whats the rate in the NEXT 1-2-3 years' that will be telling I promise. WPS in the past was a AMAZING palce to work but like alot of things change is a part of life

Whatever the outcome, Thank You to the School Committee and WEA. Few people volunteer for the hard work and give so much of their time.

WEA has not yet begun to fight how teachers are being stepped on in Westford this year - Teachers in the school are willing and ready to move to phase 1 "gork to Rule gloves come off" Work to rule under our new President who wont allow teachers to be taken advantage of anymore. Work to rule under previous leadership only signaled weakness but we are ready to move forward together, take the gloves off so its not just tough talk no walk

I wonder if the 54 teachers that just lost their jobs in Dracut would feel the same way. Would they decide they would rather be unemployed than have a job in Westford.

http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_20802649/schools-lay-off-54-dracut?source=rss_viewed

Just got this forwarded from a WPS Teacher:
The Negotiation Team has worked long and hard on this agreement. As you all know, this new agreement means steps and 1% cost of living (COLA). We are proud to present this to you and hope you will support it with a YES vote!

We got a 1 % cost of living in the third year.
ULP
is a gamble – (Yes we could win but here is what we could win)

1. We are not guaranteed steps would be retro.
2. We could get steps for only the year we requested which is 2011 – 2012
3. If we win the ULP we still have to negotiate the contract

Steps:
With this agreement we will get our step next year and 2 steps in the third year
Other language outlined:
1. We will still have 2 meetings a month but one will be dedicated to evaluation
– The School committee wanted to raise to 3 meetings a month
2. Longevity increase 300 or 400 depending on the years of service
3. Conference $200 increase
4. 7 of our sick days toward family sick
5. Swap a sick day for personal day
6. Tuition reimbursement.
7. Our last day with Kids is now half day all three years
I hope everyone gets a chance to read our tentative agreement before our question and answering session June 14th.

I am saddened that WEA isnt going to fight for STEPS ARE MANDATORY every year. What a path to go down. I would like to make a few points:
1. What happens in 2 years (next contract) when Westford withholds steps again and there CANT be a ULP as WEA agreed with this agreement steps really are up for grabs? The only reason the WEA team got this deal was the town is scared silly about loosing. That wont be the case next time. There is to consider than this contract, teachers set themselves up to be thrashed next time with a YES vote.
2. Teachers were told LAST agreement 'this is the best we can do' and clearly that wasnt the case. Why RUSH now to jump on this? The advantage to this rush vote is not with the teachers side.
3. The town says its doing all it can but REFUSES to clip back 1-2 the 185 days? Doesnt sound like all it can do from where I am sitting!
4. Mark my words a YES vote is penny wise, pound foolish. Next negotiation (remember the town and J Ross say its 2014 and 2015 that are gonna be the really bad years) will be a nightmare and the WEA will be impotent that time. Fight this now rather than later.
5. Whats the use in personal days if they can arbitrarily be denied as I hear is going to be the case for WPS teachers this year.
6. So teachers in neighboring towns not only are 'worth' thousands more and their new contracts steps are a given and 5-6% COLA. Insult to WPS Teachers.

WPS teachers deserve better!!! NO Vote

Lastly, please keep in mind the school system has NEVER answered for the fact that it has hired more and more teachers it cant afford. A YES Vote completely bails the town out now but what happens in 2 years when the town has hired a dozen new positions with the $$$ that should have gone to WPS teachers?
If I was a veteran last handful of years and I saw my peers in other towns getting 5-6% and I got 1% and was supposed to consider myself lucky I would choke.

Send this deal back to the table for revision folks!

"That's not something that I worked my tail off for, I don't feel it's a respectful offer," said teacher Jeff Haight.(From Lowell Sun article)

THANK YOU JEFF!!! That simple statement sums up my feelings on this offer too!!!

"What the courts cannot do is to order a real estate tax increase to fund the payment that they order. The increase of real estate taxes in the state of Massachusetts is at the discretion of the voters of Westford. If you want a loss of 15 to 20% of town employees to be the net result of the WEAs judicial victory then be prepared."

No, it would be the result of the town management, & SC breaking the law...what does that have to do with the WEA or its T's?

Run the numbers. Skipping teachers steps can't fund that 15-20% of jobs. 5 minutes on a calculator you will see that won't' work. I've negotiated contracts, that whole line is just a smokescreen. Layoffs have been happening all along in Westford, & will continue if revenue isn't increased. It's unavoidable. Putting the loss on the WEA or T's is lame & immoral. They aren't in charge of hiring or firing, who is? Why aren't we looking at them? Teachers just make an easy scapegoat right now.

"Who sets the Rules?
A review of the expired contract does not give an indication of rules that teachers are expected to work to."

Usually it's based off the previous contract as Westford SC has been doing. They can't really enforce T's to do the 2 PD days at year end as there is no contract, but they will. Work to rule eliminates: College letters of recommendation, Field trip chaperons to Disney & Washington, coming and going at the required hours, lots more I can't think of at the moment.

Teachers, did you get paid steps for the initial days you worked in August? The contract was in effect till Aug 31, you should have been paid steps, were you? (not rhetorical)

IMO this offer is junk.

We got a 1% cost of living in the third year. --$700 in exchange for $5200

With this agreement we'll get our step next year and 2 steps in the third year--This is a misrepresentation by the WEA. You stay a step behind all 3 years. The return to normal steps isn't until the last day of school on year 3.

1. We will still have 2 meetings a month but one will be dedicated to evaluation
– The SC wanted to raise to 3 meetings a month -- Don't fall for this. You should never settle for less money & more service. They went high so you would counter w/2.

2. Longevity increase 300 or 400 depending on the years of service -- Useful to teachers at that level. 35%-ish Steps not longevity increases.

3. Conference $200 increase -- What was this before & how often does it affect you? (Not rhetorical)

4. 7 of our sick days toward family sick -- Not much use, currently 5 w/other fallbacks if you need more. Smokescreen

5. Swap a sick day for personal day -- Useless, u already get to swap up to 2 sick days for religious reasons & they removed a sick day, u didn't gain anything, u lost a day.

6. Tuition reimbursement.-- $875 to $1,000 or $625 to $850 Stay w/current for steps

7. Last day w/Kids is now 1/2 day all 3 years --- Useless, you have 2 PD following it anyway.

"QUESTION:
How can the BOS report for 2010 claim the town 'didnt just survive but thrived' in the down economy and now this sky is falling no money claim?
I went back and read the BOS report to make sure this line wasnt taken out of context. It was not. So either the BOS were untruthful/ completely misinformed back in 2010 or they are completely untruthful/ misinformed now.

WHICH IS IT?

I have heard that the School Committee and Super saw this situation coming 2-3 years ago so I think there is evidence to support one of those two more than the other but to each his own."

Great question. No one seems concerned about the answer though. It's all about the teachers. I don't think they are in as bad of a financial problem as they claim, but if they are, what went wrong and whose fault is it? Because I see no posts about them.

Also, how is this contract so much different than this one?

http://westford.patch.com/articles/details-of-the-teacher-contract-negotiations-released-by-the-school-committee

Return to normal steps in 3 years and one less day of work are the only differences I see. The SC is also not detailing the Health Insurance changes (the negative ones anyway) Quick to tout the "savings" but nothing on what teachers are to expect next year.

If both J Haight and and the great AF think this offer is not a respectful offer in which both sides meet in the middle (looks like WEA caved and met the town 80%, the original offer by the town was no step, step. This is still no step , step. WEA went from step at the 150th day of year 1, quite a concession in and of itself, to last day of year 3 That's nowhere near the middle! ). Then I too think this needs to go back to the table.

Maybe three times will be a charm

2nd step in year 3 shouldn't be at the very end of the year. At the very least at the 1/2 point guaranteeing that teachers will actually be on step for a few months in the foreseeable future
No vote otherwise from me as well

It's the last day of school on year 3, I'm positive that is what is written in the tentative agreement. Whether it's a typo on the tentative agreement or the WEA misspoke I don't know

Last day of contract I mean

Yes,
2nd 3rd year step is last day of the contract. JUNK IMO because they COULD give double step at the start of year 3 making all teachers ON STEP for the entire year. Under this deal, teachers will only get a paycheck on step IF the next contract allows for it in the first year (2014).
I agree that this would be a longshot at best if teachers 'lie down' for this offer. AT THE VERY LEAST WEA: Insist that 2nd step come earlier so you can have your staff on step for more than 1 single day in this contract.
We KNOW if you take this we are gonna get killed next time out, AT LEAST insist on this. (BUT since WEA Team didnt hold firm on that its up to membership to say "No" -Just like Nancy Reagan in the 1980s, say it with me now "JUST SAY NO"- to this deal and sent it back to the table next fall.
The Sad Reality is the negotiation team doesnt have any fight left in them which is why they are going to sell this so hard. For a contract that will set the tone to drastically alter the pay and conditions of teachers forever in Westford thats not enough reason to take it. Maybe its time some new people come on to the Negotiations team to give it a shot in the arm if this one has 'surrender' written all over its foreheads.

STEPS are not open for negotiation SHOULD be the mantra of WPS teachers, the first contract you ratify where steps are not an automatic on the year they are due will be the start of some profound changes for teachers here in a town were the town manager has publically voiced her desire to get rid of steps alltogether

Lots of union members posting here with FALSE names, ... so I have some questions:
- does union leadership read/post here (with FALSE names)?
- why aren't your thoughts/suggestions/... brought directly to union leadership (the public whining is not helping you)?

The overwhelming odds are the town is going to loose BIG on the ULP, The town and Bill Olsen know this, the drivers seat as the Spring 2013 court date gets closer is NOT with the town, therefore there is little incentive to jump at ratifying this offer unless you are 100% certain of your YES Vote.
Any conflict and uncertainty should equate to a NO vote and send this back to the table next fall. Needless to say there is a lot at stake here and the tragedy of this is the culture and climate will likely never be the same in Westford. Its taken a major hit and teachers are now much more comfortable saying NO to volentary requests. Watch the number of greivances hit the roof in the next few years as teachers push back against the leadership that thinks it can do what it wants with its teachers. Personal day anyone?

Just deleted a comment with a name that appeared to be impersonating a School Committee member, and it was not the first time that name was used. Note to all, impersonation of other users or public officials is not allowed under the terms of service.

If your name is comparable to the name of someone else in a way that could be construed as impersonation, e-mail me at westford@patch.com and let me know before you comment.

Thanks.

Just another example of something a town next to broke in 2 years doesnt usually logically bring up for serious debate; Adding full day Kindergarten at nearly $1,000,000. per year:

http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_20825944/westford-revives-full-day-kindergarten-push

Let the layoffs begin ! Not all of us citizens can afford some of these extravagances

Point of clarification: Teachers are NOT asking the taxpayers for more tax $$$ to support steps, we ARE asking for town/school leadership (SC and Super) to spend the $48 million the town gives the school yearly to properly and competatively pay current teachers and STOP STOP continuing to hire MORE and MORE postions , There are a dozen non mandated new postions for next year. The Salary of these positions would be a significant % of the money teachers are asking for (yearly steps) without more taxes

In threatening to dock pay of those who take a personal day next week as contractually allowable, Superintendent Olsen has given staff another reason to vote NO on this offer as this is just the latest example of administration feeling entitled to violate at will contract language, it's high time we take a stand and not roll over, 90% of the time when the negotiations team recommends a yes vote people follow suit but this one is a different set of circumstances, winning the ULP something the high odds are the teachers will, would likely give full back pay, this is $6,000 that most teachers would agree to give up in order not to take any risk so Westford can spend YOUR deserved pay hiring more positions. What do you think is gonna happen next negotiation if this is ok'd? The negotiation team says a Yes vote makes our position stronger and if they really believe that they are delusional

I didn't know there was a contract in place. Mr. Olsen is a smart man, I don't think he would violate an existing contract that is in effect.

Thanks, Andrew. I've been following it, but it sounds like some folks think there is a contract in effect now, hence some of the comments that he is in contract violation.

Andrew can easily confirm that the town has been holding teachers to the LANGUAGE of the expired contract all year despite the fact it expired in August and Teachers werent paid steps. Teachers have done things like attend contractually negotiated meetings outside the school day all year despite 'no contract in place' Dont know if that changes anyones view of things but YES the teachers have followed the old contract and the TOWN has opted to violate it. and if the teachers take the recommendation to 'settle' this Friday that its OK to negotiate when and if staff will get their step each contract period woe to them in the future when this expires and they will get exactly what they deserve for not standing strong here now. I always thought this group was a wimpy to be pushed around bunch and obviously so does the town! Suckers

"STEPS are not open for negotiation SHOULD be the mantra of WPS teachers, the first contract you ratify where steps are not an automatic on the year they are due will be the start of some profound changes for teachers here in a town were the town manager has publically voiced her desire to get rid of steps altogether": Agreed. Accepting such a deal makes teachers look weak and will be the start of a slippery slope in which steps are unlikely to remain.

Reader, I would suggest you talk to you colleagues about the slippery slope as I far most will be swayed by this negotiation team that is tired, worn down, and wants this to end at any cost and selling this deal like it was a steps every year 2%,2%, 2% deal which is clearly is NOT. Even a relative 'crumb' like a 1 meeting a month reduction was slapped down by Bill Olsen at the end. Where is the language about teaching ONLY 5 classes at the High school and Teachers being PAID if they are ordered to 'cover a class' during a duty period, Another Personal Day (deducted from sick day total)? Thats the LAST thing we need as how and when staff can take those days is as shifting as the desert sand and WEA leadership hides under a rock when staff seeks clarification on contract language.

Throw this fish back and see what can be reeled up next year, we didnt come this far to lay down for this!!

One thing further; for people to be swayed by the words and 'sale tactics' of this WEA leadership duo, when there was a situation in my English Department at WA with a staff member looking for support a few months back this is the same leadership that not only left this member out to dry but was expressed how sickened they were by this teacher following what she thought was the directive. I wouldnt look to this leadership for too much at this juncture but rather make your own choice about whats BEST and FAIR for your future. A WA building Rep said this is 'NOT a respectful offer' and he is one of the few willing from WEA to speak out truthfully at this juncture. If we had Mr Joseph leading us I can tell for sure there wouldnt be the pressure and scare tactics from OUR leadership to lie down and not push for better. Cant wait till the new WEA President takes over...

Kudos for both sides to work to come closer to an agreement but I agree that in the end this deal isnt one thats in the LONG TERM interest of WPS teachers and I plan on voting against it for that reason. I suspect if it does pass it will be fairly narrow which means almost 50% of teachers working under a contract that they feel personally disconnected from. Although maybe better than no contract (arguable) this isnt going to be a 'its a small world' version of utopia either!

Are the WA members aware that the MTa has agreed to support a bill being considered by the legislature to strip seniority from layoff considerations?

"Thank for identifying yourself as a MTA professional staffer."

I didn't. I'm self employed over 10 years. Haven't worked with/in/for a union since 2001. Why is this coming up so often? Either a person's argument has merit or it doesn't, trying to skirt the debate by questioning character is a copout.

" Unfortunately you do not understand Prop 2 1/2"

Very clear on prop 2 1/2. That's 2 assumptions you got wrong.

"A court can order a settlement that must be paid. This will trigger off other contract clauses in the municipal side."

It's not a definite that it will reopen the other contracts. That's part of why the town is in trouble IMO. They are implying parity where there is none. If there is no parity, renegotiating the other contracts isn't automatic.

"In the end there will be n amount that must be raised by real estate taxes. The Westford Town Meeting is the only political body that can raise taxes."

Again wrong, who says it has to be raised by property tax increases? There is a $90m budget they have to work with. That's a lot of capital. If you look deeply through the budgets there are places to trim fat. You know where there is none according to the two independent studies on the town site? The school systems.

"If the total amount of real estate taxes exceeds the Prop 2 1/2 limits, the question must be presented to the voters. If the voters fail to approve a Prop 2 1/2 override then the Westford Town Meeting reconvenes a reduces the school budget & other budgets to pay for the court ordered amount."

First of all, whose fault would that be? You going to try to put that on the teachers again? The court may not award anything even if the WEA wins. They could force retroactive pay plus interest, or they might not make them pay anything. I've seen it go both ways. Is my knowledge of this what makes you think I work for the MTA? I worked for a Union & left in 2001.

"Under current law, seniority prevails so if he impact of the court ruling is $1,500,000 (2011/12 steps + 2012/13 steps for WAE) + municipal contract adjustments. At $42,000, the school portion of would be at least 20 teachers and could go has high as 35."

If you mean the WEA the number is 1.1 million. There are many places the money could & would come from. You think they could get rid of 35 teachers? C'mon, your smarter than this.

"Westford is facing a $6.5 million deficit for FY14 which would result in another 40 to 60 teachers hitting the bricks."

Show me the $6.5m deficit. I just posted in the voices section how I don't see any deficit. So up to 95 teachers lad off? What would the results of that be and you think the town would let it happen?

"There is a bill in front of the Legislature and backed by the MTA that would allow seniority to be superseded by other factors. Just consider all the incompetents and high paid teachers that will have to face the Brave New World."

You think there is a lot of that in Westford? And face what brave new world, where they can get hired to do less work for more pay, sounds awful.

"Are the WA members aware that the MTa has agreed to support a bill being considered by the legislature to strip seniority from layoff considerations?"

Link to the bill please? I'd like to read it but in the meantime, what is your point?

"I didn't know there was a contract in place. Mr. Olsen is a smart man, I don't think he would violate an existing contract that is in effect."

Smart men are capable of doing dumb things

Thanks, Andrew. I've been following it, but it sounds like some folks think there is a contract in effect now, hence some of the comments that he is in contract violation.

There is a de facto contract being applied by the town. Teachers are still required to show up for staff and curriculum meetings, the endless assessments, get permission from Mr. Olsen for a personal day. They threatened a law suit over unlawful work stoppage so they obviously believe there is a de facto contract in place. They are going to get killed in court on that as they are demanding one side fulfill it's obligations while they are not fulfilling their own. And if it's proven that the town was using/operating under or otherwise adhering to a defacto contract for their own benefit (which is easily proven imo) they can be forced to uphold there end.

"Please attend the 20 June 2012 meeting at Kimballs at which the TM will present the official numbers. I suggest that you also encourage WEA members to attend so they can get their information first hand."

I won't be in town. do you mean to tell me you can't explain it? Hearing someone tell it to you means nothing, you need to verify what they tell you. Sounds like you are just taking someone's word for it.

"Believe it or not over 60% of the homeowners do not have children in the schools and are tired of paying exorbitant salaries to incompetent and unqualified workers."

Can you show me where you got that figure? What town are you going to move to that gives you a discount for being childless?

"Mass. teacher union OKs deal on ballot question, 7 June 2012 Boston. Globe.
Goodbye seniority. Hello, merit pay. I have to congratulate Deval in the screwing he is giving municipal unions. Almost has good as the screwing POTUS Obama has given the federal workers unions- No pay raises for 3 years."

Is this my answer to the bill question? I mean a bill number so I can read the actual bill. Then I can make a true, informed decision about it. Have you read the bill & do you have the number?

Westford teachers wish to vote NO and continue to push for the fair contract they deserve rather than be intimated into taking this deal, so much bluster

"Your 4 previous postings confirm my suspicions that you are in a delusional state. If you doubt the numbers that I posted look them up on Tow of Westford website.
You can use your superb research skills to find the bill doing away with seniority on the MA state website.

So far all your suspicions have been wrong. Why is it so hard to show me where you got that 60% figure? I have looked up the figure, but mine is close to 50% ergo I was inquiring where you got your figure from. We are having a discussion mate this isn't the octagon. Breathe.

"I hear that the town is going to cancel health insurance coverage for the teachers effective 1 July 2012."

I doubt it, unless they want to expedite another whipsaw charge.

I also read that law and you are misinterpreting what it is for. It would allow what you said but basically they can factor performance into it. There are some bad schools with bad teachers who are "untouchable" because of seniority. The MTA is all for getting rid of teachers giving them a bad name. You would be hard pressed to find any of those teachers in Westford, look at their performance scores.

Did you read the law in its current form?

"The police and fire union members will be glad to hear that their members will have to fund the WEA members salaries and benefits."

$90M budget, cuts can come from other places. Why would you start with the most important services?

The school system is the biggest repository of lard in town. K-12, the staff is 15 ro 20% overstaffed with respect to very generous staffing guidelines of the school committee. Add in $90K+ athletic directors, counselors K-5, etc... and you wind up with a potential of cuts of $10 million or about 160 teachers. The $10 million saved would stabilize the town's finances for next 10 years.

2007
http://www.westford-ma.gov/pages/government/towndepartments/boardsandcommittees/WestfordMA_financecomm/Documents/LRFPCFinalReport.pdf

2004
http://www.westfordma.gov/pages/government/towndepartments/westfordma_townmanager/documents/CETG_Jun04_Final_Report_r5.pdf

$67M in OPEB is actually small compared to other towns. But Westford won't be the only one paying that bill, it will partially be taken from future hire benefits, the state and also federal. I surely think it's something to factor into the budget and start planning for it asap, but it doesn't function in the box you think it does.

' "The police and fire union members will be glad to hear that their members will have to fund the WEA members salaries and benefits."
$90M budget, cuts can come from other places. Why would you start with the most important services?"'
You believe that the schools taking over $46 million from the town budget should be spared and the other departments/expenditures taking $50 million should be reduced.
1. Of the $50 million there is an amount of ~$9 million to pay off bonds.
2. Of the remaining $41 million there are amounts totaling ~12 million for employee benefits which leaves $29 million.
3. Then there is insurance and FICA and Medicare taxes ~ $ 7 million NB The town budget reflects both employee and employer contribution.- The available funds are now down to $22 million.
4. The town budget has several revolving funds such as water ~4 million and ~ recreation ~ 3 million which brings us down to $15 million to trim.
Should we close the Fletcher Library?
Should we reduce the highway department?
Should we shut down the Senior Center?
Should we shut down/reduce computer, telephone, electrical, heaing and cooling, and water utilities?

"$67M in OPEB is actually small compared to other towns. But Westford won't be the only one paying that bill, it will partially be taken from future hire benefits, the state and also federal."
The $67 million OPEB is Westford's share and the time clock started in 2007.

The private world is a cruel world.

"You believe the schools taking over $46 million from the town budget should be spared and other departments/expenditures taking $50 million should be reduced"

Because I've done it my whole life I believe you trim the least important things, not necessarily the ones taking the most money. The school has the highest number of employees, services the most amount of people, has the most buildings, the highest educated staff. It stands to reason it would have the highest part of the budget.

I always try to answer your questions but you tend to avoid mine. Why are you so intent that the funds must come from schools and not other places? The schools already run very efficiently in money spent per child. You seem to automatically cross every other department off the list...why?

"1. Of the $50 million there is an amount of ~$9 million to pay off bonds." - When do they have to be paid?

:2. Of the remaining $41 million there are amounts totaling ~12 million for employee benefits which leaves $29 million." - That includes all town employees, admin, fire, police, engineers, secretaries etc.

"3. Then there is insurance and FICA and Medicare taxes ~ $ 7 million NB The town budget reflects both employee and employer contribution.- The available funds are now down to $22 million. " Insurance and medicare taxes are the same no matter what. Teachers do not pay FIca so the town does not have to match it. What unions are paying Fica and getting a pension?

"4. The town budget has several revolving funds such as water 4 million & recreation 3 million which brings us down to $15 million to trim.
Should we close the Fletcher Library, reduce the highway department, shut down the Senior Center, shut down/reduce computer, telephone, electrical, heaing & cooling, & water utilities?"

You don't understand budgets at all. You keep presenting options that make it appear impossible to cut anything & not close the town. Drop two professional development days & trash/recycling pickup. Thats 2 million I believe right there.

"The $67 million OPEB is Westford's share & the time clock started in 2007." Show me where you see that, & still waiting on the 60% homeowners w/no kids.

"The private world is a cruel world."

The private sector is compensates master's degree's better than public.

http://www.massbudget.org/report_window.php?loc=Compensation_3_11.html

You think tax dollars aren't being funneled into the SS sinkhole? You think pensions are a burden, SS is far bigger system & larger funding gaps.

I work in the private world. I've done construction, electrical, telecommunications, customer service. I've worked for unions, I've negotiated for unions, been on strike, been laid of because of seniority, made & managed budgets, hiring/firing, I've managed 50 employees, started my own business w/my money. I get hammered on taxes & insurance. But you couldn't pay me enough to do the schooling and work a teacher does.

"It appears that you are well educated and know the definition of delusional.
The problem is that you and the WEA are unwilling to recognize the state of delusion in which you are in. I believe that makes you and WEA psychotic delusional.
The other possibility is the use of mind altering substances. A strong possibility."

You keep saying that but you fail to show me how I'm being delusional?

I can tell that you have no idea what it's like to be a teacher, or read a budget. My guess is you do not have a master's degree and do not know what it's like to manage people. Yet you offer such simple slice and dice solutions yet you don't understand any of the aspects involved. Most of your solutions are specious at best.

Okay, that's it. I'm closing auto-approved comments to this post. I've deleted two comments here, one from Alex, one from Jessie. I may have to read again and delete more.

The other thing I noticed is almost $8 million i debt service, yet the capital planning committee has $35,000,000 in new plans for the next 5 years for which they will borrow. Dumb dumb dumb.