Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for November 29, 2007 MEMBERSHIP SURVEY

By Friday, November 30th, you should receive a copy of a "Membership Survey Form - Negotiations". It is DUE by Friday, December 7th.

Please give this some SERIOUS thought.

Try to refrain from compiling a "wish list" of things that would just "muddy the waters". You know...a 10% raise, mileage to and from work, donuts and coffee at 10 a.m., two-week all expense paid vacation in the summer, etc.

However, if something in the current contract is NOT working, let us know. If your day could be improved dramatically by the inclusion of new language, let us know.

As far as money...

We all know that a Financial Oversight Panel is in place that has the ultimate say over finances. We also know that we are already hearing "protestations of poverty", primarily based upon dramatic drops in enrollment and ADA for the past couple of years and projections for the immediate future. You also know, from previous editions of CAT Tracks, that I've already indicated on several occasions (dating back more than a year) that the Association is NOT going to be very receptive to such protestations as long as the District freely spends money on lawyers to fight the "chosen few". (For example, the District is scheduled to go to Springfield in January to fight "Round 2" of the James Gibson case...the first round of which cost untold thousands of dollars! The prospects of the District winning are NOT GOOD. If they were to win, they will easily spend more than last month's $20,000 in legal fees for the privilege! If they (as expected) lose, they will spend that PLUS whatever settlement is ordered by the court. In short, it's a lose-lose situation for the District and those of us who depend on the District's financial status for our livelihood.)

So...Bottom Line: We expect a raise!

As we enter negotiations, we would like to know YOUR "bottom line" What is the minimum raise that would make you willing to sign a new contract...for one year...or for multiple years?

Thank you in advance for your input...