Janesville School Board to try again on teacher contracts
JANESVILLE — Some Janesville School Board members believe they have found a way for their employee unions to reopen their contracts and make concessions.
The teachers union recently backed away from such a move, saying their attorneys warned them they would put their contract in jeopardy if they reopen it.
The board is hoping to get employees to pay more for their benefits in order to balance next year's budget and possibly avoid some layoffs.
The problem, from the union standpoint, is that any reopening could void the contract under the terms of Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill. Union benefits and bargaining rights could be wiped out.
School board President Bill Sodemann said Monday night that several board members believe they have a way for the contract to be re-opened safely.
Sodemann said he did not want to go into details before the entire board heard the ideas.
The board will meet in closed session at 7 p.m. tonight to go over the proposal.
Teachers union President Dave Parr said he does not know what the ideas are, but several board members have asked him about the fact that the budget-repair bill cannot become law until it is published. The state is not expected to publish it until March 25.
Parr said he has forwarded that question to a union attorney and hopes to get an answer today.
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Mar 16, 2011 at 8:01 p.m.
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Sorry--I meant on all the blogs.
Mar 16, 2011 at 7:59 p.m.
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Almost 3/4 responders (yes ---that would be 75 out of a hundred) respond with incoherent gibberish---wow.
Mar 16, 2011 at 1:48 p.m.
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They will not open the contracts it's always been and always will be about the money. I got mine and you need to raise taxes to pay the rest, or terminate them if you can't raise taxes. The unoin brothers are only together when they get their money in the end they are no longer brothers if one loses his job and stops paying his dues right.
Mar 16, 2011 at 12:48 p.m.
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Cass - your first comment here just confirmed what I suspected. You really have no idea what you're talking about.
#1 - There is no new law yet.
#2 - The Secretary of State said he will not publish Assembly Bill 11 (now Wisconsin Act 10)before March 25th, the last day possible, because of the legal issues being addressed regarding illegal passage.
#3 - As a result, the earliest day possible for passage of the bill is March 28th.
#4 - A judge may prevent publishing at the March 18th hearing, where complaints regarding its legality are heard, until a decision is made.
#5 - Janesville School District employees have a contract through 2013, so the items you mentioned won't even apply to them until after their contract expires.
You know, I figured you were just full of hot air in these blogs. Now I know that you don't even know the basics.
Mar 16, 2011 at 12:28 p.m.
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"Judge Maryann Sumi (SOO'-mee) told attorneys she'll hold a hearing on Friday. She may decide whether to block publication that day if she's comfortable, but said she won't rule on the rest of the case that day."
http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/118036...
Mar 16, 2011 at 12:10 p.m.
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KDS, a recent article also suggests that the judge will postpone publishing of the bill until after the case is decided.
Mar 16, 2011 at 12:08 p.m.
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The title of this article should read, "Bill Sodeman to try again on teacher contacts." He must have been one of those kids that didn't understand the meaning of "no!"
Mar 15, 2011 at 11:45 p.m.
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She'll just have to consult her "attorney" again. ...LMAO
Mar 15, 2011 at 11:44 p.m.
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Now, now, now, don't try to confuse Cass with facts.
Mar 15, 2011 at 7:55 p.m.
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Does Cass realize that the March 25th pay date is actually March 18th due to spring break??
As I recall, the bill does not become law until it is published, therefore, it would not yet be law when the March 25th payroll is posted.
We need to insure that we have our facts straight before we attempt to stir the pot.
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