On August 19, 2008, the Cairo Association of Teachers presented its initial monetary proposal to the Cairo Board of Education.

Since that time...

• August 25th - Negotiations session canceled due to a conflict with previously scheduled session with CAESP. Rescheduled for August 26th.

• August 26th - BOE Team calls and cancels rescheduled meeting. Resecheduled for August 28th.

• August 28th - BOE Team fails to have quorum. Those present spend time "discussing" adjustments to scattergram (placement of teachers on salary schedule by years of experience and education level). CAT emphasizes that it expects a counter-proposal on money at the next session...which is scheduled for September 3rd.

• September 1st - BOE Team calls and cancels September 3rd session. BOE Team later sends e-mail and offers Friday or the following Monday. CAT Team accepts Monday, September 8th.

• September 5th - Superintendent Swopes sends letter to CAT President De De O'Shea that the District will NOT honor the provisions of the Contract by moving employees vertically on the salary schedule. (This is an unfair labor practice under Illinois labor law and is in direct conflict with established judicial decisions.)

• September 6th - BOE Team sends e-mail offering a September 8th meeting at 10 a.m. with one of the District's Financial Administrators to go over proper teacher placement on the salary schedule.

• September 7th - For the first time in history, the CAT turns down an offered meeting...for three reasons. (1) That's what we spent the failed meeting of August 28th doing!!! (2) All members of the CAT Team had previous commitments for that time on that day. Two members happen to be active teachers and had teaching obligations at 10:00 a.m. on a Monday. The other member had a doctor's appointment at 10:00 a.m. in Sikeston, MO. (3) After receiving a letter from the District's representative the previous day that the District was going to violate the law and NOT HONOR PROPER TEACHER PLACEMENT ON THE SALARY SCHEDULE...why would members of the CAT Team try to make arrangements to meet with a District representative to discuss such placement???

• September 8th - BOE Team notifies CAT that it is canceling tonight's rescheduled bargaining session...that it has decided to employ the services of an attorney at the table.

• September 8th - CAT sends Superintendent Swopes an e-mail stating that in light of recent events, it feels that it is time for the parties to bring in the services of a mediator. CAT asked for a response to the e-mail...

• September 9th - No response to CAT's suggestion to go to mediation.

• September 10th - No response to CAT's suggestion to go to mediation. CAT sends another e-mail (actually two)...requesting a response AND offering to write the letter making a joint request for mediation.

• September 11th - At 1:00 a.m. - CAT e-mails a draft of a letter requesting mediation to Superintendent Swopes.

• September 11th - Morning - No response to CAT's suggestion to go to mediation.

• September 11th - 1:30 p.m. - CAT calls BOE team and leaves telephone message concerning Superintendent Swopes failure to respond to repeated e-mails.

• September 11th - Afternoon - No response to CAT's suggestion to go to mediation.

• September 11th - Evening - CAT President De De O'Shea attends the District's community out-reach program. Nobody approaches her about the past week's communications/requests. So, President O'Shea approaches a member of the BOE Team...and he is unaware of what has transpired!!! He promises to follow-up on the matter.

• September 11th - Approximately 7:30 p.m. - BOE Team member calls and leaves message on my answering machine...he will meet with Superintendent Swopes on Friday morning concerning CAT's request to go to mediation.

• September 12th - Approximately 10:15 a.m. - CAT President De De O'Shea receives a telephone message to come to the District Office...to sign the joint request for mediation.

• September 12th - Approximately 11:00 a.m. - CAT "snail mails" letter to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service office in St. Louis, MO. CAT also faxes said letter to said office.

Does it appear to you that CAT is being met half-way in its efforts to successfully negotiate an agreement to replace the Contract that expired on June 30, 2008???

Me either!!!

Well, CAT's pushing and prodding finally paid off...

A mediation session has been set!

Unfortunately, the earliest date available by the mediator was October 1st at 6:00 p.m.

Hey...your bargaining team ain't happy about the delay either, but we have no other option. When negotiations sessions keep getting canceled...and when the Superintendent WILL NOT RESPOND to communications...what's a CAT to do?

And, YES, this delay means that the District gets to "play with you"...make you "twist in the wind" for at least two pay periods...applying the pressure...NOT allowing you to move on the salary schedule as legally required.

Isn't it interesting...how the District can (with straight face) ask for your cooperation and support...ask you to volunteer your time and energy..."for the good of the District"...and that same District refuses to even follow the law when it comes to your pay?