Today, August 30, the ACCCEA Unity Negotiations Team met with Board representative Joe Rossi upstairs in J building. The Support Staff contract was discussed. Joe was alone; Karen Beckman and Cindy DeFalco were absent again. Representing the College employees were Michelle Bevan, Phil Cragg, Renee DeAngleo, Nick Ganaway, Dan Matt, Mitch Mischlich, Dom Nigro, Will Parsons, Marsha Patrick, Ed Perkins, Rhonda Petruzzi, Jim Sacchinelli, John Stratton, and Penny Wells. The meeting began at noon and lasted until 8 pm. People who join the team for the first time are usually amazed at how much time it takes.

I am happy to report some progress, but sad to report that we are not close to closure. Negotiations is like chess where there is a beginning game, middle game, and an end game. We are not into the end game yet. We will not get there until the money offer on the table is in the range of the recent settlements of other community colleges in New Jersey. We need to get the message to the Board to be more realistic. The next scheduled negotiations meeting is September 19.

I am sorry I gave you an incorrect email address yesterday. Sometimes I work late at night, like tonight, and I get careless. My email address is wkparsons@comcast,net. If you sent in suggestions about how to use $72,000 to help the students and it bounced back, try again. I have received some interesting suggestions. Will Parsons, Unity Negotiations Team Coordinator