The Unity Negotiations Team met with Board representative Joe Rossi Friday, April 7 12:00 in J 245. At that meeting, Joe responded to the Faculty bargaining unit’s proposed changes. Members of the team at the table were John Stratton, Claire Farnum, Jim Taggart, Dennis Huey, Lenora Sheppard, Will Parsons, Michelle Bevan, Phil Cragg, and Dom Nigro. The Board’s responses were in writing and team members received copies. Joe verbally explained the responses and answered questions about intent that Dom Nigro and Team members asked. After the presentation, Joe left and the team spent an hour going over the responses item by item. The team decided what we can agree to, what needs to be put on hold, what needs to be rejected outright, and what counter proposals might move us along toward settlement.

The next negotiations meeting is April 19, where the Board will respond to the Support Staff proposed list of changes.

This week a member mentioned to me a new benefit we could ask for. We are still fairly early in the negotiations process, so theoretically a new benefit could be put on the table. To reach settlement, however, we must reach agreement on some issues and let other issues “drop off the table”. The team members make those decisions. Dom Nigro, our NJEA Representative provides advice, but the team members make the decisions and those decisions are reached by consensus. It is rare that a vote is taken. Will Parsons, Coordinator for the Unity Negotiations Team.