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Teachers, secretaries and union representatives urge board to authorize bargaining and oppose outsourcing amid stalled contract talks
Summary
Multiple public commenters, including union representatives and long-serving teachers, told the board negotiations have stalled, warned that delay erodes trust and contributes to staff departures, and objected to outsourcing of positions at high hourly rates.
Multiple members of district staff and union representatives used the public-comment period to tell the Waterford School District Board of Education that contract negotiations with district employees have stalled and to urge the board to empower negotiators to discuss financial terms.
Cheryl Campbell, identifying herself as president of the MES 1 secretary's unit, said August 21 marked the 52nd day her unit had worked without a contract and described secretaries as essential to district operations. Joe Humphrey, a member of the WA bargaining team and a 20-year district employee, described extended bargaining since April and said the parties received a counterproposal only after two months; he said many bargaining proposals were rejected and that the district has had nine bargaining sessions to date. Both speakers said prolonged delay is harming morale and making retention more difficult.
Teacher Mary Crate, a long-time district educator, criticized outsourcing of positions and said previous outsourcing had resulted in contractors being paid $90–$100 an hour for work she previously performed. Laurie Tunick said the union's proposals were intended to improve working and learning conditions and accused the district team of lacking the authority to bargain financial terms; she said delay erodes trust and that failure to authorize bargaining authority is, in her view, a failure to bargain in good faith under Michigan law.
Board members did not respond with new direction during public comment in the portion of the transcript provided. The board later moved into a closed session by roll call vote under sections 8(h) and 8(k) of the Michigan Open Meetings Act; the transcript records that roll call.
