NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE: TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED
SEPTEMBER 27, 2007
Linda Hendrix

The bargaining team reached tentative agreement last night on language and salary items for the 2007-2008 school year. Teams met for several hours and finally agreed upon a package to be presented to teachers and the Board.

Delegates will meet Wednesday, October 3, for the monthly delegate meeting. The meeting will focus on reviewing the package for this year in preparation for presentation to teachers. Delegates will meet with teachers in the buildings to review the proposals and answer questions. Teachers will then be given one week to cast their votes and return their ballots to their delegates. All ballots must be returned to the TCTA office by close of day on Thursday, October 11.

All teachers, whether TCTA members or not, will be allowed to vote on the proposed agreement. If ratified by the membership, the tentative agreement goes to the TPS Board for their vote. Should the package fail to be ratified by either party, the teams would return to the bargaining table.

The salary proposal includes step movement and additional monies added to each step currently on the schedule. Several language items are being proposed, including an item making additional requirements in the dress code.

TCTA will be sending additional information to each building delegate. Please exercise your right to vote on the agreement brought to you by your bargaining team.

 

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE: AUGUST 19, 2007
Linda Hendrix

On September 10 and 13, the bargaining team met with the Board’s team for the purpose of discussing salary. On September 10, the TCTA submitted its initial salary proposal and provided costs and rationale. On September 13, TCTA submitted its proposal for improvements to the special assignment list. Surprisingly, the Board’s team did not accept our salary schedule as proposed and indicated that they would be presenting a counter proposal at the next meeting.

The teams met again on September 18. The Board team reviewed our request for special assignment pay and indicated an unwillingness to look at increasing several positions submitted. They did provide a cost analysis on other areas. The Board team also submitted a counter to our salary proposal.

The TCTA team has studied the Board proposal and determined it to be insufficient. The team did not feel they could take such a proposal to the membership for ratification. The team worked until late Tuesday night on a possible counter offer.
Teams will meet again on Monday.

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE: AUGUST 5, 2007
Linda Hendrix

The bargaining team continues to meet in an effort to reach an agreement on language and salaries for this year. Scheduling conflicts, on the part of the District, have prevented meeting during the first few weeks of school.

To date, the teams have reached tentative agreement on several language items. However, there are language items still at issue and monetary items have yet to be presented.

Meetings with the Board’s team have now been scheduled for August 10, 13, and 18. TCTA does have a salary proposal ready, and we are hopeful that we can complete the bargaining process during those three meetings.

Once tentative agreement has been reached on all items, TCTA will notify all building delegates and send out packets for ratification by the teachers.

In addition, we are working on creating a Master Contract of all negotiated language. This has been a huge and time consuming task. Each item has been reviewed and categorized. One-time items and obsolete language has been removed. Once completed, members will have an accurate agreement of all language that currently exists. The language will then be updated annually, so that each year’s contract reflects any additions or deletions made at the bargaining table.

Feel free to call TCTA for additional information: 749-2544

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NEGOTIATIONS UNDERWAY FOR THE 07-08 SCHOOL YEAR

The TCTA Bargaining Team has met during the summer to prepare for negotiations with the District on an 07-08 contract. Your team members are Denzel Kesterson, Patti Ferguson, Trish Mott, Lonnie Wilson, Ruby Starks, and Linda Hendrix.

State financial figures were given to all districts in mid-July, but a $23 million dollar error in the original calculation figures had to be corrected. Those corrections have since been made, and new figures have arrived. The state figures show that 3.5 million dollars was allocated to Tulsa for the improvements on the salary schedule.

Those Districts that pay strictly off State Mandated Salary Schedule must increase salaries as directed by the legislature this year. Some districts, like Tulsa, pay above the state mandates. Since the legislature did not guarantee the salary amounts for each teacher, we will have to bargain salary amounts at the table. While there is no amount that can be promised at this time, it is clear that the legislature intended that all teachers benefit, and Tulsa was sent the 3.5 million for that purpose.

In addition to compensation and language issues, we have worked through the summer to create a master contract. All language bargained since 1968 has been reviewed, updated, and categorized for easy access. Members will be hearing more about this accomplishment when school begins.

TCTA will be discussing these issues with Building Delegates during our August 9 meeting. Be sure to check with your building delegate for updates, or call the TCTA office.

 

2006-2007 SALARY SCHEDULE / Optional Special Assignment Schedule
Click here to view the 2006-2007 Salary Schedules.

UPDATE - AUGUST 25, 2006
Following are the negotiations packages ratified by Tulsa teachers for the 2006 and 2007 school years. These conditions supersede any previously negotiated items.

Click here to review the PDF.

Members with questions are welcome to call the TCTA Office at 749.2544.