There will be less frequent postings through the summer as the process of negotiations slows down. You are probably asking yourself, “How could it get slower?” If key people on either side are on vacation, we will not meet. Or you may be telling yourself, “Will has a bad attitude”. My wife says that often.

Actually my attitude is positive. We could settle all four contracts in one long negotiations session, if a lot of stuff fell off the table and if the money were about what other NJ community colleges are getting. Right now the College still does not know how much money the State will contribute. Apparently the legislators are still negotiating with themselves about how to get the funds and how these funds are to be distributed. The College is hesitant to negotiate money seriously until the financial picture is clearer.

Part of this process requires trust. I follow Ronny R’s philosophy, “Trust, but verify”. We have a good Board of Trustees that I trust. However, we are beginning to form a Negotiations Action Squad in case the process really breaks down and we lose trust. Will Parsons, Coordinator for the United Negotiations Team