Education Association of Passaic

PASSAIC -- The teachers union has been without a contract since September, and its leaders are calling for an accelerated resolution to negotiations with the city.

Members of the Education Association of Passaic, which represents more than 1,500 teachers, school para-professionals and nurses, attended the Board of Education meeting last week to push the board for renewed talks on a new contract.

Teachers union President Steve Boudalis confronted the board, saying his members have gone "above and beyond" what's required of them in the old contract. Boudalis argued that the board was dragging its feet in the negotiations process.

Behind him, about 20 teachers congregated in the back of the board's hearing room wearing buttons that said "No Contract, Still Working, Always Caring."

Board members and school administrators questioned Boudalis' contention that the prolonged process was their fault, saying it was the union that called for mediation after the two sides failed to agree late last year. Board member Alex Ibarra, a member of the board's negotiations committee, called Boudalis' argument "slightly disingenuous."

"He called for it, not us," Ibarra said Monday of the mediation process.

In September 2004, as the last three-year contract expired, the board approved a one-year extension, which provided for about $53 million in salaries alone, a 5 percent increase over 2003. The median salary for Passaic faculty members is $51,970, according to the state schools report.

The two sides have been negotiating since September, but have reached an impasse, which prompted the union's negotiating team to call in a state mediator who could help reach consensus.

At issue in this round of negotiations is the board's push for a longer workday for teachers. That day now runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Superintendent Robert H. Holster would like to see more "contact time" between teachers and students having trouble academically and more professional development days.

Most teachers, Boudalis said Monday, are already working more hours than what is covered in the contract, including planning the next day's lesson each evening and giving students additional help. He argued that the district is diverting teachers from meeting more with students so that they can develop new teaching methods and strategies.

"The fact is teachers put in a lot of time beyond contractual work hours," Boudalis said. "The board isn't putting time it takes to sit down to negotiate, while they're asking for more time, more professional development and more school days."

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