Sultan teachers negotiate contract

Published 10:48 pm Friday, September 25, 2009

SULTAN — Teachers had their own after-school assignment the last two weeks.

The group staged a few informational pickets at a football game and along U.S. 2 to let parents know they were working without a contract.

The teachers don’t have any immediate plans to go on strike. Instead, they will meet with district negotiators Monday for their third bargaining session in six days.

“We’re still not there, but I think anytime you schedule another session, you have something to talk about,” said Andrea Fuller, president of the Sultan Education Association.

The situation is far from unique. In Granite Falls, teachers also are working without a contract and will meet with negotiators Monday.

Rich Wood, a spokesman for the Washington Education Association, said contract negotiations for teachers and education support workers often spill into the school year.

“I’d say at least 32 teacher unions (are) still bargaining,” he said. “We had about 175 open contracts this year.”

The Sultan union — made up of 115 teachers and other nonadministrative staff — has been at odds with the district on a couple of financial issues.

Fuller said the union wanted a 2 percent raise this year, while the district proposed keeping pay flat. The union also wanted an increase in the $10,000 total the district contributes to a health insurance pool, which the district wants to leave as-is.

District Superintendent Dan Chaplik said the two sides are bargaining in good faith. He praised the teachers and said differences at the negotiation table haven’t affected students.

“Generally speaking, the district’s continuing to function fine,” Chaplik said.

Both sides said a strike isn’t imminent. However, Fuller said if a deal isn’t reached Monday, union members will “work to contract,” arriving at 7:15 a.m. and leaving at 2:45 p.m.

Meanwhile, union representatives in the Granite Falls School District said they are working toward a deal.

Diane Flynn, a union negotiator, said both sides are eager to iron out a contract.

“We are still working on some economic issues, as well as class-size issues,” she said.

Flynn said the negotiations have been cordial, a point echoed by Kathy Grant, the school district spokeswoman.

“We really do appreciate our teachers’ working without a contract,” she said.

Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455, arathbun@heraldnet.com.