Milton teachers reject contract, joins Burlington, S. Burlington in stalled negotiations

Burlington Free Press

Milton teachers' union has rejected the School Board's latest proposal and entered a fact-finding process with a mediator.

A banner hangs outside Milton's elementary school on June 26, 2017.

Milton Education Support Association (MESA) announced the status of their negotiations Thursday on Facebook.

A fact-finder’s report is non-binding, but will offer recommendations that MESA and the district can either accept or use to reach a mutual agreement.

"[...] the Milton School Board signaled again last night that they are not taking contract talks seriously. After a more-than-90-minute delay, the board’s negotiating team presented teachers with a contract proposal that can best be described as insincere," a statement on Thursday from the union said.

The association explained that the board’s proposal included: more unpaid overtime; increases in health insurance costs, reductions in professional development opportunities and an "insulting salary proposal."

The contract for Milton teachers and support staff expired on June 30. In May, the board and the union agreed to mediation, joining two other Chittenden County School Districts negotiations at an impasse: Burlington and South Burlington.

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Burlington teachers listen as Fran Brock, president of the Burlington Education Association, not pictured, announces that the teachers have voted to strike if an agreement has not been reached with the school board by October 20th in Burlington on Thursday, October 13, 2016.

Milton School Board Chairwoman Lori Donna responded to the union's statement on behalf of board members saying,"MESA’s recent accusations against the Board of insincerity and lack of seriousness are an affront to the Board’s team and are contrary to all of the direct talks between the parties."

The board members stated that the board's offer provided for "fiscally responsible and sustainable wage increases" in line with district goals, which included improved student access to teachers.

Additionally the Board said, "over the past five years the School District has provided teachers salary increases significantly outpacing the cost of living and wage increases to most Vermonters."

Milton Town School Board members sit in front of a sizeable crowd as a public meeting wraps up in Milton, Monday August 10, 2015. Members of the community were given the opportunity to make comments at the meeting regarding the latest internal investigation report where 5 district employees allegedly failed to follow local hazing or bullying reproting policies.

Both the Board and the Association have agreed to proceed to fact-finding, according to their individual statements. Both claim to have students and community good as a focus.

"The board – which has bungled numerous issues this year – has a chance to get something right if they can retreat from their current approach and just sit down with MESA until a deal is reached," the union wrote.

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The Board responded saying it is disappointed MESA chose to attack the Board for addressing state mandated health care changes and fiscal sustainability.

Meanwhile, support staff will meet with Board representatives and a mediator on July 27, the union said.

Contact Nicole Higgins DeSmet at ndesmet@freepressmedia.com or 802-660-1845. Follow her on Twitter @NicoleHDeSmet.