Contract deal struck in marathon session
More than a thousand rally for East Bruns. school workers' union
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

SCOTT PILLING staff East Brunswick teachers Dana Zimbicki and Jo-Anne Bijas rally the crowd outside Chittick School Tuesday night.

A negotiations session that lasted more than 14 hours ended yesterday morning with a tentative contract agreement for more than 1,300 East Brunswick school workers.

The marathon session began Tuesday evening after an outdoor rally in which more than a thousand people showed support for the East Brunswick Education Association (EBEA), which has been without a new contract since June.

Officials would not divulge the terms of the tentative agreement, which still requires formal approval from the union and the Board of Education.

The rally took place behind the Chittick School, located across Old Bridge Turnpike from the school administration offices. East Brunswick's school workers turned out in great numbers, and the crowd was rounded out by supporters from districts such as South River, Monroe and North Brunswick, as well as county and state union leaders.

The event included music and speeches, though no one specifically stated what the points of contention were in the contract negotiations.

Frank Zarenba of the Middlesex County Educational Association said job expectations have grown faster than salaries, which he said are not even keeping up with inflation.

"We have done our jobs and deserve to be compensated," he told the crowd.

The EBEA represents teachers, instructional aides, bus drivers, custodians, secretaries, cafeteria workers and computer tech personnel.

The crowd held up signs with statements such as "No Contract But Still Teaching," "We Teach, We Care," "Make Our Contract Fair," and "Quality Education Priceless." Another large sign read, "Blue Ribbon Schools, Blue Ribbon Staff Deserve a Fair Contract."

And during a negotiations session that lasted from 6:30 p.m. Tuesday until 9:15 a.m. yesterday, the workers may well have received such a deal.

EBEA President Ruth Davitt, saying she was "exhausted" late yesterday morning, was pleased to have the tentative agreement in hand.

"It's been a long process," she said, noting that contract negotiations began last December and that the most difficult part was for workers to return to school this fall without a new contract. She stressed, however, that this did not affect the quality of education delivered in the schools.

"At least the first phase of the process, reaching a tentative agreement, has occurred, and now we can follow through with the necessary steps," which include developing salary guides, finalizing the contractual language, approval from the EBEA's bargaining counsel, a vote on ratification, and finally, approval from the school board.

While a tentative timeline was established for these steps, Davitt said it was premature to divulge those dates.

Superintendent of Schools Jo Ann Magistro released a brief statement yesterday expressing gratitude to all those involved.

"I would like to thank both negotiation teams for their hard work and the staff for their professionalism throughout this process," she said.

Contract negotiations reached an impasse in September, and a state-appointed mediator was called in for this week's session.

District spokeswoman Patricia LaDuca said those taking part in the closed contract talks included members of the EBEA, a Board of Education subcommittee, Magistro and school Business Administrator Bernardo Giuliana.

As a result of the last contract agreement, reached in 2003, the EBEA received salary increases of 4.95 percent, 5 percent and 5.25 percent over the course of the past three school years.

Health insurance has been a key issue in negotiations. In the 2003 settlement, the employees' health plan was changed from "traditional" to a preferred provider organization (PPO) plan as a way of controlling the escalating costs of health benefits afforded by the school district. Magistro has described the previous health insurance plan as "very robust," and said the school district saved $4 million under the new one.

During Tuesday's rally, Wendall Steinhauer, secretary and treasurer of the New Jersey Education Association, told the crowd that it is about time East Brunswick workers received "Blue Ribbon earnings." He said employees have been doing their jobs, and it is time for the Board of Education to "do their job."

After the rally, many union supporters walked over to the board offices to stand outside during the negotiations.

Zarenba said contract disputes are part of a larger problem with the education system. He noted that the federal government has failed to adequately fund its mandated No Child Left Behind policies, which he said have changed teaching practices and burdened educators.

Meanwhile, pensions are no longer being funded by the state, he added.

Although those in attendance are "rational, reasonable" people, those in power have not been reasonable. Considering the budgetary climate, it would be naive to expect the school board to be so reasonable, he said.

Still, Steinhauer said the board needs to "update the earnings of those who work in East Brunswick."

He was upset that police would not let anyone park in the Chittick School parking lot, but said when "little things like that" are done it only strengthens his resolve. The worse things become, "the more united you become," he said.

A sample of the music played before the speeches was enough to give anyone a clear idea how the group felt. Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It," Donna Summer's "Enough is Enough," and Aretha Franklin's "Respect" blared, and the music ended with the song that perhaps best summarized the teachers' feelings: The Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."

Many of those in attendance danced and sang along with the music, which blared from the public address system before the speakers took to the microphone.

Davitt told the crowd that the union is all-inclusive and mentioned all the different groups represented by the union, including guidance counselors, nurses, librarians, school and instructional aides and others. She said workers have gone far too long without the "safety and security" of a new contract, and one onlooker yelled "or the money."

Though the PA system did not function properly, the message was loud and clear throughout the hour-long event. It became even more so with a cheer after the speakers finished.

"EBEA, this is what we're here to say: Settle now, settle now."