The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Board expected to reach contract
Dispute with teachers seemingly ends after more than three years
By Dan DuChene, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 10, 2008
Today, both the teachers and the Board of Education are expected to consider the tentative agreement reached for Willow Run teachers last week.
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Doris Hope-Jackson, superintendent for Willow Run, said the board will likely discuss the tentative agreement between the district and its teachers, represented by the Willow Run Education Association, at its regular board workshop scheduled for tonight.
Calling the agreement a "win-win," Jackson said the tentative contract was reached last Thursday, when both sides came to the table and negotiated a December offer from the district for nearly five hours. She said the details couldn't be discussed until both sides officially approve the measure.
The district and the WREA have been at odds with each other over a new contract for more than three years. Both sides had remained at an impasse even after fact-finding and mediation.
The WREA had been working under the provisions of the last approved contract until August, when the board voted to impose a contract on the teachers. The decision was called the "last best offer," and made under the auspices that a stalemate had occurred.
Upset with a lack of raises or step increases during the past three years and a change in health care, which established a $2,500 deductible each year for two years, the teachers began taking steps toward a potential job action.
Kathleen Miller, president of the WREA, said the Michigan Education Association had been out last month to assess the situation and recommended a job action. The Washtenaw County Education Association had begun taking a unity vote, which would have united most of the school districts in the county if a job action had taken place. Though voting already has begun, the votes weren't scheduled for counting until next week. However, several representatives from teacher's unions from around the county turned out to the last Willow Run board meeting to voice their support for the members of the WREA.
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