RADNOR — The members of the Radnor Township Education Association, the union that represents 300-plus teachers and other professionals in the school district, voted to reject a collective bargaining agreement proposed by the Radnor School Board.
This is the first proposed agreement that the education association negotiating team brought to the membership for a vote.
The deadline for a new contract was Aug. 31. The two groups have been in negotiations for nearly a year.
According to a press release issued by education association Monday night, during the negotiations “teachers demonstrated a willingness to make key concessions, such as contributing significantly to teacher benefits, increased work obligations without associated pay increases, and a willingness to accept reduced salaries as compared to previous contracts.”
“School board representatives and their high-price legal counsel repeatedly responded with disparaging remarks regarding teacher professionalism, as well as individual personalities, and pressed forward a predetermined agenda designed to undermine the present and future structure of teacher pay, promotion and advancement,” the press release continued.
Last week, school board President Greg McNicholas released a statement on the status of the contract negotiations:
“The negotiating committee of the Radnor Township School District has been working diligently with leadership of the Radnor Township Education Association to reach a multiyear collective bargaining agreement.
“Teachers are fully engaged with their students.
“The district has pledged not to conduct these negotiations in the media, and we will honor this commitment.
“We remain optimistic that a settlement will be reached shortly. As additional information becomes available, we will provide it.”
According to education association, it intends to continue bargaining with the school board.