UNITED TEACHERS OF NORTHPORT
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2011
Over the past three days, at the District’s request, your UTN Negotiations Team has been in meetings with the District in an effort to continue the negotiations process. On Tuesday morning, UTN President Antoinette Blanck and Labor Relations Specialist Sean Callahan met with Superintendent Marylou McDermott, Board Counsel John Gross and Attorney Regina Cafarella. Earnest discussions in that small group meeting led to the scheduling of a subsequent session for today and precipitated yesterday’s day-long meeting of the UTN Team. In addition, John Gross met with the Board of Education on Tuesday evening, in executive session, to discuss our negotiations.
At the conclusion of today’s session, it was determined that Board Counsel will again meet with the Board of Education at the start of the new year to discuss some very specific details of our discussions. Our next session was scheduled for Tuesday, January 10th.
It is evident that our continued unity and actions have encouraged the Board of Education to resume talks with the UTN. We ask for your continued support in order to maintain the momentum developed over the past few days. To that end, we ask that you plan to attend a FULL MEMBERSHIP unity activity on the evening of Monday, January 9th, the date of the next Board of Education meeting and the evening before our next session. More information and specific details will be provided in the coming days.
In anticipation of dropping temperatures and inclement weather, we are temporarily suspending outdoor unity walks. In lieu thereof, we will be seeking full support of districtwide solidarity activities such as that being planned for January 9th.
Despite the prolonged negotiations process and difficult climate, our unity has not wavered! We have continually and consistently demonstrated that we are the United Teachers of Northport, we stand TOGETHER, we stand UNITED and we stand STRONG!
On behalf of the UTN Negotiations Team, I would like to thank you, our membership, for your continued support! Your attendance at, and participation in, our various solidarity events has been greatly appreciated. I would also like to extend my best wishes to you and your families for a peaceful and peace-filled holiday season and a new year filled with health and happiness.
In unity,
Antoinette