CUSD teachers' contract still in dispute
By Jennifer Zhang
The second of five mediator-facilitated negotiation meetings, held on May 21, has not brought the Cupertino Union School District (CUSD) and its teachers closer to an agreement on their contract dispute. Although both sides hope for a conclusion before the end of the school year, their representatives are unable to make any prediction at this point.
The issue stays the same--health and welfare benefits for teachers for the 2003-04 school year. The two sides are about $1 million apart in their proposals to meet the rising insurance costs. although there are some disputes on the percentage this amount of money corresponds to.
Janice Hagerbaumer, president of the Cupertino Education Association, said it is a 0.5 percent difference, while CUSD Superintendent William Bragg believed it is more like a 1.4 percent difference.
The meeting took place from 4:30 to about 9 p.m. The mediator worked with both sides individually, communicating questions, comments and ideas.
Hagerbaumer said, "We are still frustrated. Nothing really happened at the meeting. We're still where we were a week ago."
"We haven't come to any agreement," said Andy Mortensen, assistant superintendent for the district. "The focus is still on health and welfare benefits for the third year. But I think the situation is progressing. The fact that we continue to meet and discuss is positive."
Mortensen said that the health and welfare committee is working hard to try to minimize insurance premiums. This committee assists the negotiation process by making recommendations to the district superintendent and the board.
"I don't know what to expect," Hagerbaumer said. "Right now we are working to prepare for the next meeting. I hope both sides can give a little and find a middle ground."
"The mediator is in charge," Mortensen said. "His job is to be successful in bringing the two sides together. I'd love to see this resolved before the school year ends on June 13. Our teachers work hard. ... It'd be nice if they could spend their summer months at rest with this situation."
According to Hagerbaumer, the mediator can only facilitate the negotiation for 15 days. If the situation is not resolved by then, the fact-finding process will begin, during which a fact finder from the state will study all related business records and then make a recommendation.
Cupertino, California Since 1947
