Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for June 30, 2008 NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

When negotiations started, I advised you NOT to expect to hear much...that we did NOT bargain in public.

That's our story and we're sticking to it!

For you curious CATs, there have been a total of 10 bargaining sessions lasting approximately 2 hours each:

• Session 1 was to establish ground rules for bargaining...where to meet, when to meet, how long to meet, how many members on each team, who the spokespersons would be, the process for reaching agreement on individual items...tentative agreements...TAs, etc.
• Sessions 2 through 6 were spent engaging in a "dialogue"...explaining and exploring identified areas of interest.
• Sessions 7 and 8 produced TAs of various minor issues, many of which were simply "Back to Book"...agreement that the original contract language would be left alone.
• Unfortunately, Sessions 9 and 10 have bogged down...only one TA...a "Back to Book" item. The sessions were "amicable", but as more complex items..."hot button" topics (e.g. Section 3.4 - Voluntary Transfer) arise, discussion lengthens and agreement is not readily reached.

Again...be patient. We still hope to have negotiations completed prior to the beginning of school!