Dennis outsmarts the big guys? (Oh my!)
From: Dennis Leone
To: John Bos
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006
Subject: Re: John Bos has sent you a Sandusky Register News Story
John --
I had an 11-day strike to deal with at Oxford-Talawanda in 1988. It was horrible. When the teachers voted, OEA said: "All those in favor or NOT supporting the recommendation of your negotiating team to strike, please stand." Can you imagine the pressure? Of 241 teachers in the room, I'm told that 12 stood up. During the strike, because I hired 250 subs to keep the schools open, teachers picketed in front my home, in front of my wife, in front of my 3 children. I have a story to tell you about the REAL reason OEA hates me so much that goes back to 1988: One day before the strike began, I announced throughout the district that I would be holding special meetings for sub teachers at three different school cafeterias around the district. Flyers were put up and the rooms were made ready for the big meetings. As you might guess, OEA had mobs of people picketing the 3 schools that night in advance of the meeting time. What happened? While hundreds were picketing the 3 schools, I was meeting at the same time with all of the sub teachers at a Holiday Inn in Middletown. The people were picketing empty buildings that I set up as decoys. I will always feel that OEA will hold a grudge for that.
DL
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Run Date: 08/28/2006
DEVELOPING STORY: PERKINS TEACHERS STRIKE
Striking Perkins teachers held picket signs reading "No Contract No Work," and "Teachers on strike" in front of schools this morning.
Instead of welcome-back signs, students prepared to pass their teachers and cross the picket line for their first day of class.
The Perkins Education Association took a strike vote Sunday night after 7 1/2 hours of last-chance negotiations failed.
The vote was unanimous.
The shock of a strike becoming a reality was settling in as teachers hurriedly left the union hall, walking briskly to their cars to spend a few hours at home before returning early this morning to pick up signs and take to the picket line.
"I never expected, nor did our members to be in this position," said Bob Myer, PEA spokesman. "We are saddened that the leadership of the Perkins District has ma neuvered us into this position."
In a statement read late Sunday by PEA spokesman Bob Myer outside Laborers Local 480 on Perkins Avenue, minutes after the ballots of the strike vote were counted and confirmed, he said despite the strength of the vote the choice was hard to make.
"The teacher of Perkins School District have made the most difficult decision a teacher will ever have to make. After 17 months of negotiations resulting in little progress, the teachers voted unanimously to strike the Perkins Local School District," Myer read.
The district administration and teachers have been at odds for more than 400 days over what a fair and reasonable contract for teachers, taxpayers and the school consists of.
At the heart of the feud are discipline procedures, salary, insurance, class size, health insurance and supplemental contracts for additional responsibilities held by teachers who coach sports or advise activities.
The board released a stat ement Sunday night stating it had "made every effort to achieve an agreement that is fair and equitable to the Perkins citizens, students and teachers."
Myer said the teachers stand ready at any time to return to the table to settle differences.
The board stated it remains committed to return to the table at the direction of a federal mediator.
By choosing to strike, the teachers forfeit their pay and health insurance and fringe benefits immediately.
Teachers can apply for loans through the Ohio Education Association but will have to repay them. They are also eligible for COBRA insurance policies since their district insurance is no longer valid.
Substitute teachers contracted through a crisis management company called Huffmaster will be in classrooms to teach students.
Perkins Police Department will be handling security both in and outside of the school while classes and extra-curricular activities are in session.
"The safety and security for all students, personnel and school grounds will be the major priority," the board said.
"Our No. 1 goal is to protect the students," Perkins Police Chief Tim McClung said. "This is our community. We will ensure the safety of our students while this is going on in school grounds."
The replacement teachers and administrators are included in the protection.
"It doesn't matter who they are," McClung said. "For anybody on school grounds, safety is our priority."
Payment for security is under negotiations.
"That will be discussed with the school board," McClung said. "But it was my understanding they are going to pay for the additional security."
McClung declined comment on numbers of officers assigned to strike security or specific security details. However, Perkins police have taken over security on all school property, including all school buildings, the administration building and the bus garage, he said.
"We have our plan in place," McClung said. "We will take care of security for the school."
The Perkins Police Department has 37 police officers, McClung said.
Non-teaching employees will be at work today.
After learning about the strike Sunday night, the board did not have additional comments.
Register staff writer Carol Harper contributed to this story.
posted by Kathie Bracy at 3:48 PM
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