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M a t a w a n J o i n t F r e e Public Library 1 6 5 M a i n S t . Matawan, N.J. 07747 The issues: N egotiations resum e as teacners W hat the teachers w a n t ... MATAWAN in 'he contract, making it a legitimate continue to strike in M ataw an The Ma>awan Regional Teachers Assn. subject of grievances. Ms. Panos calls this originally requested a 35 percent salary increase, but it has since modified its issue “ super important." By David Thaler The teachers went on strike Friday demand. The proposed clause in the contract states MATAWAN morning. Only three teachers crossed the MRTA President Marie Panos said this 'ha' "No employee shall be disciplined, Negotiations between the striking Mata­ picket lines, Ms. Panos said. None of the week that the teachers would settle for reprimanded, reduced in rank or compensa­ wan Regional Teachers Assn. and the Board three is an MRTA member, she added. increases of 19 to 23 percent over two years. tion. or deprived of any professional of Education resumed last night, but both According to Dr. Richard Brown, a board The board has offered 8.5 percent. advantage, er given an adverse evaluation of sides appeared to be bracing for a long member, only 500 of the district’s 6,600 In 1.975. the MRTA won a 17 percent his professional services without just cause. strike. students attended classes Friday. Class­ increase over two years. Two weeks after the Any such action asserted by the Board, or Acting under a court order, the board and rooms were staffed by 64 substitutes, in contract was ratified, Hazlet teachers won a any agen' or representative thereof, shall be t he teachers negotiated through the weekend addition to the three teachers and admini­ 23 percent increase. subject to 'he grievance procedure.” and. according to conflicting reports, may strators, he said. When evaluating a salary demand, ii is —More pay to supervise extra-curricular have been close to a settlement early Attendance increased to 1,300 students necessary to determine whether the teach­ activities. Ms. Panos contends that Barry Monday morning. Monday, Brown said, and 72 substitutes were ers' normal increments are included. Each Rizzo, Matawan’s football coach for more MRTA President Marie Panos said the used. Four teachers reported to work, he year a teacher works in the district, he than two decades, is one of the lowest-paid board withdrew all but three of its demands said. Yesterday, attendance was 1,688, and moves up a step on the salary guide and grid coaches in the county. Other coaches from the bargaining table and the teachers 81 substitutes were brought in. receives an increment. In Matawan, .the and advisers are also underpaid, she says. countered with a proposal which represented Substitutes are paid $50 per day, twice the average increment is 3.2 percent. —Insurance coverage for teachers after “ significant movement from our position." normal rate, during the strike. There are 14 steps on the salary guide. they retire. The proposal includes medical, The MRTA proposal, she said, was Schools were operating on a four-hour day. MB b m A f'er'he fourteenth year, a teacher receives dental, and prescription insurance. rejected, and the board put eight of its other The afternoon session at the high school was Matawan teachers continue to picket outside schools as strike enters fourth day. a maximum salary. Higher salaries also are —Accumulated sick pay for teachers upon proposals back on the table. cancelled, but all students were directed to were served yesterday, he said. urges the MRTA members to return to work. paid for teachers who hold master’s degrees. retirement. If, for example, a teacher did not Kathleen Marshall, chairman of the attend the morning session. The teachers, however, did not return to Among the teachers' other demands: use 45 sick days during his career, he would board’s negotiating committee, denied that Bus drivers refused to cross the picket work, and the board is expected to initiate Teachers on the picket line were generally —Dental insurance for teachers’ families. he paid for them when he retired. The the board had ever officially withdrawn any lines. Brown said, but custodians were contempt proceedings. Teachers found in orderly, according to several reports. MRTA In 1975, the MRTA won a dental insurance amount would be the highest substitute’s of the 11 proposals. working. contempt could be fined up to $5,000 and members, however, were taking photo­ plan for teachers. To extend the coverage to rate of pay at the time he retired, multiplied Other sources indicated that Jack Tillem, The board hired security guards and sentenced to 180 days in jail. graphs of substitutes who crossed the picket 'heir families, Ms. Panos estimates, would by 45. a mediator appointed by the State Public assigned two to each school during the day DeMaio said that contempt proceedings lines. cos* $100 per teacher, or approximately —Increases in paid sabbatical leaves. The Employment Relations Commission, had and one to each building at night, he said. could “stretch out for several weeks very Ms. Panos has threatened the substitutes $40,000 a year for the entire staff. board now grants sabbaticals to one percent asked the board which of its demands it Superior Court Judge Thomas L. Yacca­ easily.’’ with a blacklisting in districts in the county. —Job protection for teachers who do not ol 'he staff each year, paying half the considered most important. Then, the rino Friday issued a temporary restraining Teachers who do not have tenure could be The board countered the threat by stating have tenure. The MRTA wants to require the teacher’s salary. The MRTA wants sabbati­ sources said, Tillem look the three proposals order, directing the parties to negotiate discharged for participating in the strike, that substitutes are hired by school boards, board to show “ just cause" for not renewing cals lor 3 percent of ihe staff, with an option to the MRTA negotiators and asked what every day until a settlement was reached DeMaio said, and charges could be preferred not teachers unions. the contract of a non-lenured teacher. State to 'ake a half-year leave at full pay. the union would be willing to concede in and ordering the teachers to return to work. against those who do have tenure. Ms. Panos and several other MRTA law now requires the board to show “ just —Full tuition reimbursement for college exchange for the board dropping eight of its At the board’s request, Judge Yaccarino The charges, he said, would be lodged with members went into the schools Friday lo talk cause.” but the union wants the requirement courses. demands. amended the order Monday, eliminating the • he state commissioner of education, who to the substitutes. “ That is the way a good mediator works,” requirement to negotiate every day. MRTA could suspend a teacher’s certification for up “We asked them why they had crossed Ihe one source said. “ Neither side has to change officers and members of the negotiating picket lines," she said, “and asked them not W h a t t h e board wants ... to. one year. its position officially, and both sides can team were served with the order over the In an advertisement which appears on to do it again." indicate how far they’re willing to move weekend, according to Board Attorney She contended that the teachers were MATAWAN Presently, if an administrator or Ihe board Page 5, the board warns teachers of the without committing themselves.” Vincent DeMaio. Teachers on the picket line unable to maintain the educational program. The Board of Education originally sub­ issues a directive which varies with past consequences of defying the court order and mitted a 43-page proposal which would have practice, the MRTA can file a grievance changed virtually every clause in the challenging the order. The board’s proposal teachers' contract. would eliminate past practices as a subject It has since narrowed its demands to 11 of grievances. THE issues: —Establishing a ceiling on insurance —Relieving teachers of menial tasks, such benefits and eliminating duplicate coverage. as monitoring halls, and instead assigning The board is concerned about skyrocketing them to work “ with small groups or insurance costs. Until 1975, there was a individuals who may require extra help.” ceiling on increases in premiums. The This is the controversial “ sixth period” MRTA succeeded in eliminating the ceiling proposal, first advanced in 1975. and does not want to re-establish it. The board contends that it is an even trade This proposal also would eliminate teach­ of menial chores for meaningful work. The ers' spouses from the board’s insurance ☆ A 4 ☆ The Weekly Newspaper Matawan Regional Teachers Assn. believes plans if they are covered by other policies. n d e p e n d e n t that it is a ploy to increase teachers’ work The duplicate coverage, the board argues, I ☆ ^ ☆ load 20 percent, from five periods a day to “ results in little or no benefit to the teachers, six, enabling the board to eliminate 20 despite considerable cost to the board.” vol. 7 NO. 46 Wednesday, Sept. 21, 1977 20 Cents percent of the staff. The MRTA contends that because the Even if it is not a ploy. MRTA President policies do not cover all medical costs, the Marie Panos says, the extra teaching assign-, overlapping coverage reduces the amount ment would require more preparation and teachers’ families must pay when they incur more time grading papers.

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