Salt Lake teachers this year won't get raises
because their schools are struggling with budget cuts.
And money's not the only problem.
Education Specialist Sandra Yi has the story.
The battle is over possible policy changes.
Teachers had expected to sign a new contract - before the end of the last school year.
Months later - there's still no contract... and talks seem to have reached a dead end.
Contract negotiations are at a standstill.
Salt Lake City teachers refuse to budge - and sign a contract they say - takes away their rights.
They say the policies now in place - have worked for years.
Elaine Tzourtzouklis/Salt Lake Teachers Association: "IT'S NOT THAT THEY CANNOT MAKE CHANGES, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE CHANGES TOGETHER, NOT LET THEM HAVE CONTROL AND DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE A LEG TO STAND ON."
The current written agreement is in effect - until 2004. It was renewed each year - until now.
In the next 2 years - the district hopes to address key issues and possible policy changes with teachers.
One big sticking point is teacher transfers - which currently gives school staff priority for job openings. Teachers say - they have the right to those jobs... but the district wants to change the policy, saying the current transfer process is slow - and makes new teacher hiring more difficult.
The district also wants teachers to put in a longer work day - and do away with program ratification - which allows teachers to approve new school programs.
The Salt Lake teachers association says the changes will only give the district more power.
Jason Olsen/Salt Lake City School District: "WE DON'T SEE IT AS BEING ABOUT POWER. SOME OF THE ISSUES WE'VE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT FOR YEARS, AND THIS IS THE TIME WE SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS THEM."
The S-L-T-A says - it is open to more talks.
Still - it wants the best possible contract for the 14 hundred teachers in the district.
Elaine Tzourtzouklis/Salt Lake Teachers Association: "SUPERINTENDENTS AND BOARD MEMBERS, THEY COME AND GO, BUT OUR TEACHERS ARE HERE TO STAY, AND SO YES, WE DON'T WANT IT OUT OF OUR HANDS THAT WE CAN'T NEGOTIATE CHANGES. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT."
A mediator will now help with contract talks.
Teachers say - if a new contract is not signed before school starts - they will still teach. They say they don't want this issue to affect the students.
Aug. 7, 2002
