New Kensington-Arnold negotiators ‘still stuck’ on health care as teacher contract talks continue

Brian C. Rittmeyer | Friday, March 25, 2022 5:34 p.m.

Louis B. Ruediger | Tribune-Review

Shown on March 1, New Kensington-Arnold teachers rally outside Valley High School ahead of a school board meeting.

A new contract continues to elude the New Kensington-Arnold School District and its teachers union.

Negotiators for the school district and the New Kensington-Arnold Education Association met for four and a half hours Thursday night, said school board member Terry Schrock, the district’s lead negotiator and spokesman.

While reporting “some movement on both sides,” Schrock said they are “still stuck on health care.”

Education association Vice President Andrew DeAntonio also said health care is the single remaining issue.

“Our union made several offers to meet in the middle in order to resolve this contract last night,” DeAntonio said. “Our offers were both fair and fiscally responsible. The district’s finances are not an issue here. They have sufficient resources to settle this contract in a fair and equitable manner. It seems to us that the board simply wants to punish our members.”

On March 1, Schrock said the district’s proposal would increase the monthly contribution for single coverage from $65 to $125 in the first year of a new contract, and the contribution for family coverage from $125 to $250.

It was not immediately known if the district has since changed that offer.

The union said its proposal would keep its members in the middle among Westmoreland County school districts on health care, while they are “close to the bottom” on salary.

The association said its last offer was to increase the monthly family plan premium from $125 to $185. No information was given on the individual payment.

“It is particularly galling that the board has as well admitted to us that they want to build up their cash reserves by charging our members more for health care,” DeAntonio said. “We are simply trying to maintain the status quo within the county.”

The last contract between the district and union expired Aug. 31.

The union’s members earlier this month authorized a strike, but no date has been set for one.

“The patience is wearing thin with the board’s continued unwillingness to treat us with respect,” DeAntonio said.

Schrock said negotiators for the district and union are scheduled to meet again on April 6.