Union+says+teachers+won't+give+up+seniority

=By Mary Niederberger= =Published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette= =4/28/12= = = = =

=Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers President Nina Esposito-Visgitis is emphatic that her union will not consider giving up seniority in the determination of furloughs that its members are facing in the coming months.= =But that won't stop Pittsburgh Public Schools superintendent Linda Lane from continuing to ask for a discussion on the matter.= ="It would be a tough discussion. I know why the PFT would have to consider it carefully," Ms. Lane said.= =The school board on Wednesday approved a resolution by an 8-1 vote that directs Ms. Lane to enter into discussions with teachers union officials about the dissolution of seniority.= =In a statement at the conclusion of that meeting and again in a news conference Friday, Ms. Esposito-Visgitis cited the district's teacher contract and the state school code, both of which call for teachers to be furloughed based on seniority. She said the union has no intention of deviating from that criteria, which all 500 public districts in the state use.= ="They say they want to pick and choose. We say there is no way to do that in a fair and just way," Ms. Esposito-Visgitis said.= =The union leader said any deviation from the seniority system could result in decisions being made on popularity or lack of it or for economic reasons. She said she feared teachers with more experience and higher salaries could be targeted for furloughs for financial reasons.= =Because of a projected deficit, the district plans to eliminate 350 to 400 teacher, counselor and social worker positions in the coming months. The number of furloughs won't be determined until retirements and resignations are factored in.= =Even though Ms. Esposito-Visgitis left no wiggle room in her position on the issue, Ms. Lane said Friday that she will continue to try to get a discussion going on the issue because she believes it's what's "in the best interest of children."= =The board resolution was introduced Wednesday by board member Sharene Shealey, who said she was concerned about schools that would be left vulnerable with district layoffs being made by seniority such as Pittsburgh Faison PreK-5 in Homewood. About 40 percent of the teachers at Faison have less than four years' experience.= =Ms. Esposito-Visgitis said district officials, rather than being adversaries of the union, should be joining forces with teachers to fight state budget cuts that have forced the reduction of vital programs and to push for the reinstatement of charter school tuition reimbursements.= =Both the union leader and superintendent said the district and union have worked through a number of difficult issues in recent years, including coming up with a teacher evaluation system. And both used that fact to argue their point.= =Ms. Esposito-Visgitis said she believed the union should not be put on the spot about the seniority issue since it has been so cooperative on other issues.= =Ms. Lane said because the two sides have been able to work together before, they should be able to do so on the seniority issue as well. She said she does not have a plan in mind for the selection of teachers to be furloughed, but would like to create one with the input of the union. Ms. Lane said such a plan wouldn't ignore seniority, but would not use it as the sole factor.= =The superintendent said while no other district in the state has veered from the seniority-only model for furloughs, the administration and teachers of the Tulsa Public Schools in Tulsa, Okla., have recently worked out an agreement on furloughs that considers various factors.= ="I don't think you ignore seniority, but let's think about it," Ms. Lane said. "I don't see the danger in considerate and thoughtful exploration."= = = = = = = = = = = =News= =home=