Why doesn the school district just freeze or reduce staff salaries to cut its costs for 2009-10?
While the district has the ability to cut positions to reduce its costs, it does not have the ability to unilaterally change the salaries of staff covered by a negotiated agreement. The district has negotiated agreements with its unions. These agreements are legally binding contracts that spell out staff members’ terms of employment, including salaries. And, even though the district is in contract negotiations with its teachers union, the district is still bound by state law to honor the existing contract. Here’s an analogy. Say you want to cut your household expenses, and you decide that your monthly cell phone bill, car payment and mortgage payment are too high. Chances are that you signed an agreementa contractwith these companies describing how much you would pay each month for your cell phone, car or home. You cannot simply decide to start sending these companies smaller monthly checks. What you can do is contact these companies and ask if they are willing to renegotiate your cont
Related Questions
- What limitations are there on a school district’s ability to discontinue programs or reduce staff for economic reasons?
- Why doesn the school district just freeze or reduce staff salaries to cut its costs for 2009-10?
- Can the District roll back (reduce) and/or freeze salaries for all employees to save jobs?
