The Unity Negotiations Team of the Atlantic Cape Community Education Association met with Joe Rossi for negotiations Tuesday February 4 at 1:00 pm. The negotiations occurred mostly in Joe’s office, but at 5:30, as I was leaving to teach, someone said Joe wanted to come to the table. We have not seen Karen Beckman or Cindy DeFalco for a while. I doubt that they played an important role anyway. There was no reason to have them sit there when they could have been doing something useful for the College. That same could be said for the people on our side. Negotiations lasted until 1:00 am. Both side got close, but there was no agreement.

This has been the most protracted negotiations I have ever been involved in. There have been more man-hours wasted than in any other negotiations. The reason is that Joe Rossi wants some “wins” to put on his curriculum vitae. The next meeting is 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm on Tuesday February 13. Joe has something to do at 3:00. It is possible that we will continue negotiations again at 6:00 pm.

No other college in New Jersey negotiates like we do. Dom Nigro our NJEA negotiator has suggested that for the next negotiations, the Team meet with the NJEA negotiator to decide on a “package” of proposals. The Team could then go home. The Negotiator would go to Joe’s office to deliver the proposal and to receive a counter proposal. Some days later, the Team and the NJEA negotiator meet again. That process would eliminate weeks of people sitting at the table chatting. On occasion Dennis or I try grading papers, but it is usually hard to concentrate. Sometimes people try working on the computer.

Proposals can be grouped together as a package. They are presented on a take all or take none basis. That does not usually work very well, because once one side suggests proposal A, the other side knows that it is possible to get proposal A eventually.

This negotiating team is the best functioning team we have ever had. In the past, we have had people with character disorders or loose tongues or just poor judgment. No weak links this time. There is a core of young skilled people who will be able to represent the membership well in the next negotiations.

I am hopeful that next Tuesday we can get at least one contract settled. We are close.

Will Parsons, Unity Negotiations Coordinator