Major events during Waynesboro contract dispute

June 21, 2012

Herald-Mail file photo

The following is a timeline of major events during the long-running contract dispute between the Waynesboro Area School District’s teachers and school board:

Jan. 7, 2010 — Both sides meet informally for the first time.

Feb. 18, 2010 — First formal bargaining session.

May 2010 — Teachers say their “starting point” is 5.7 percent raises per year. The school board proposes no pay increases.

June 30, 2010 — Last contract expires.

Nov. 29, 2010 — State-appointed fact-finder issues a report. Recommends 3 percent raise for 2010-11, followed by 3.5 percent for 2011-12 and 3.5 percent for 2012-13.

Dec. 9, 2010 — Board rejects fact-finder’s recommendations. Teachers had approved them as the possible basis of a new contract.

Dec. 20, 2010 — Teachers authorize a strike, although they never conduct that strike.

Feb. 15, 2011 — Seventy-five teachers protest at board meeting.

March 2, 2011 — Waynesboro Area School Board announces it is considering no increase for first year of the contract, followed by a lump sum payment for the second year and normal step/column movement for the third year.

March 15, 2011 — Tensions flare at school board meeting. Board member Leland Lemley tells the teachers union, the Waynesboro Area Education Association, that it tries to control school board elections.

March 28, 2011 — Teachers propose no pay increase for first year of new contract, followed by 3.5 percent salary increases for the second and third years.

April 13, 2011 — Two sides have heated exchanges at bargaining table.

Aug. 15, 2011 — School board complains about costly grievances.

Feb. 21, 2012 — Both sides meet for an impromptu session after two months without negotiating.

April 30, 2012 — State-appointed fact-finder issues second report. Recommends average increase of $1,200 a year for 2011-12 and 2012-13.

May 9, 2012 — Teachers take a second strike-authorization vote. Again, they do not strike.

May 15, 2012 — School board reaffirms rejection of fact-finder’s report. WAEA approved it.

May 23, 2012 — A retired superintendent, Gary Miller, acts as a mediator in a joint session.

May 30, 2012 — WAEA rejects two board proposals.

June 6, 2012 — School board releases the two proposals it presented to WAEA — a 2.5 percent raise for 2012-13 and 2 percent employee contribution to health insurance, or 2.25 percent raise for 2012-13 and no employee contribution to health insurance. Both medical plans would have a $1,200 deductible for single people.

June 11, 2012 — Talk of a grievance disrupts negotiations.

June 14, 2012 — Bargaining results in a “mediated proposal.”

June 19, 2012 — School board unanimously approves “mediated proposal.” Neither side releases details.

June 20, 2012 — Teachers vote electronically on “mediated proposal.”

June 21, 2012 — Union President Mike Engle announces in an email that a contract has been settled.

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