Union Files Complaint Accusing District of 'Unfair Labor Practices'

It appeared as if an olive branch had been extended in the nearly 2-year-old .

Superintendent Curtis Griffin said during Monday’s school board meeting that “the door is open” for Hatboro-Horsham Education Association President Jackie Anderson to meet with him and the district’s director of business affairs, Robert Reichert.

Teacher Jim Sullivan, in addressing the board, asked that before formal negotiations resume in mid-April with attorneys on both sides in tow, that Griffin and Reichert sit down informally with Anderson and another union rep “for one last session.”

“I’m asking that one last effort be made,” Sullivan said. Please give the four of these individuals one more opportunity.”

But, by meeting’s end, board president Barbara LaSorsa said in a prepared statement, that the union’s March 11 filing of unfair labor practices with the state served to “further complicate” the ongoing negotiations.

“We will prepare a response to these allegations,” LaSorsa said of what she described as “misleading claims.”

The issues in question date back to November and involve allegations that teachers were retaliated against after picketing; and that the district provided incorrect health information.

After the meeting, Anderson said the union’s attorney made the filing now because the union was “close to deadline” for filing. When asked why the union allowed so much time to pass following the alleged unfair practices, Anderson said, “We had hoped we would have had some progress.”

In contrast to LaSorsa’s comment about complicating matters, Anderson said, “It can’t hurt it any more.”

Prior to the start of Monday’s meeting, several dozen sign-toting outside , as they had done before the start of the board’s meeting earlier this month.

Anderson said she has received a strike authorization vote, but said the teachers are not looking to strike at this point. The district’s more than 400 teachers have worked without a contract since it expired June 30, 2009.

Several in attendance Monday voiced frustration at the lengthy contract stalemate.

“We need to settle the teacher’s contract,” Hatboro resident Sue Murphy said. “The teachers have given enough, the students have given enough … I want you guys to play nice in the sandbox.”

Following a where students and parents alike opined about the quality of the district’s teachers and how important their classes are, Griffin suggested that the union “make a commitment to be at graduation.”

“That was missing last year,” Griffin said. “That would be very important considering the very difficult year our seniors have gone through.”

Anderson was non-committal, at least for now.

“We’ll certainly consider it,” she said.