Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Buffalo teachers walked the picket lines before starting school Thursday when they learned a negotiating session with Buffalo Public Schools was canceled at the last minute.
Buffalo Teachers Federation President Phil Rumore describes the talks as being in disarray after the cancellation. "We had a negotiating session set up for Wednesday at 11:30. Around 8:30, the district notified us that they were canceling it because they had to do some analysis," says Rumore. He adds there were things they were discussing and close to reaching agreement on that the two sides could have discussed.
Rumore wasn't happy. "It was, just as far as we're concerned, another stalling tactic, and just another slap in the face to teachers and saying, 'Look, this isn't important. We're going to wait till the last minute he cancelled it and too bad.'" says Rumore. He says that prompted his urging of teachers to picket before the start of classes.
Rumore says teachers furious with the move contacted him. "They were insulted, angry, that they should wait until the last minute to tell us that negotiations are canceled and then cancel them when there were other things that we could have discussed at the meeting that we were close to agreement on, while they did the other analysis," adds Rumore. He also was urged by teachers to call for a vote of no confidence. "We'll see what happens next Monday, and next Monday turns out to be bad, there will be a vote of no confidence," explains Rumore, as the next negotiating session is set for then.
Buffalo School Board President Lou Petrucci hopes that doesn't happen. "It would be unfortunate if that happened," says Petrucci. "The district and the board has directed the superintendent, who is in charge, who is our only employee who does the day to day operations to make this a priority."
Petrucci says it's the goal of everyone on the board to get the deal done. "We want to make sure that our teachers receive a fair contract one that's reflective of their value in the district," says Petrucci. But he says there are a lot of different things to be negotiated. "It's not just about money, it's about a bell time and coaches and a variety of other different items within the contract that are non monetary, but that are still important to both the districts and the BTF," explains Petrucci.
In addition to higher salaries Rumore says sticking points include having more school counselors, social workers, attends teachers, psychologists, and having their ratios lowered. The next scheduled negotiation is November 21st.