Boulder teachers union rejects latest offer

BOULDER - Members of the teachers union have rejected the latest contract offer from the Boulder Valley School District.

This marks the second time the Boulder Valley Education Association has voted to reject an offer from the district.

On Nov. 13, the district and the BVEA announced they had reacted a tentative deal. If the union members would have agreed, it would have created a new contract for the rest of 2009 into 2010.

In turning down the deal, BVEA President Melissa Tingley said in a statement, "Teachers and other district employees are angry and frustrated. This year's contract negotiations were filled with disrespect and ultimatums. The collaborative process that we once enjoyed in this district has been destroyed."

"In rejecting this offer again, the members are saying they refuse to be the district's last priority. They want the new school board to work with them to ensure that the district keeps its high quality teachers who are key to student achievement," Tingley said.

The rejected offer included a 1 percent salary increase for the teachers.

Briggs Gamblin, spokesman for Boulder Valley Schools, says district leaders are disappointed in the result and they want to renew their call for a third-party to come in as a fact-finder before continuing negotiations.

Gamblin says the teachers cannot strike because they are still working under their old contract. Before they can strike, they would have to terminate their old contract, which requires 10 days notice.