Teachers spurn board's latest labor deal Union says Oxford Township board's proposal falls short of fact-finder's recommendation. Wednesday, August 23, 2006 • By SARA K. SATULLO • The Express-Times OXFORD TWP. | Teachers in the Oxford School District rejected the school board's new contract proposal Tuesday. Specific terms of the proposal were not disclosed by either side. The teachers have been working without a contract for the last two years and were flustered by the latest offer. "Really, in essence we waited the entire summer to get any response from the board," said Pam Niles, a field representative for the New Jersey Education Association. "I guess I can conclude they weren't as interested in getting settled prior to the start of school." When contract negotiations stalled this spring, the state appointed a fact-finder who issued a recommended settlement in April. Niles said the teachers reluctantly agreed June 12 to accept the recommended settlement. Board member Matt Hibbett, who heads the board's negotiating team, said teachers were given a proposal that mirrored that initial mediation report. He said medical concessions would be applied to new hires in 2007-08, but that "would not affect any current teachers." "Their major beef right now is with medical," Hibbett said. "Teachers need to step up and take some of the burden off the taxpayers." Hibbett said the district's health insurance has increased between 11 and 16 percent over the past two years at an annual cost of $60,000. Oxford's 39 teachers, who teach kindergarten through eighth grade, are the lowest paid in Warren County, earning an average salary of $43,682. The average salary in New Jersey is $52,563, according to the state education department. The board's latest offer renewed teachers' criticism of the board's handling of contract negotiations. Fourth-grade teacher Bridgett Carvagal of Bethlehem said the association rejected the new proposal because it offered far less than the fact-finder had recommended. "We are continually frustrated that it took two months and two weeks to get any response at all from the board of education," Carvagal said in a statement issued on behalf of the association. "Our association is still willing to accept the fact-finder's recommended settlement. Our frustrations continue because we are returning to school in September without a contract for the third consecutive year." The school board announced at its last meeting it would switch heath insurance carriers beginning Oct. 1. The board secretary gave the association paperwork on the new carrier's premiums, Niles said, and the premium costs are higher than the current plan, which she finds disturbing. Niles said if the fact-finder's recommendations are unsatisfactory to either side, the next step involves a full hearing by a fact-finder. Reporter Sara K. Satullo can be reached at 908-475-8044 or by e-mail at ssatullo@express-times.com. © 2006 The Express-Times. Used with permission.