Email this page Printer Friendly

After many months of collecting data from our members, PGCEA has presented one of the most comprehensive proposals in its history to the new administration. PGCEA members provided the Association with a wealth of information about areas that could be improved.

The online negotiations survey provided most of the information. However, the standard forms of communication such as phone calls, letters and staff analysis completed and confirmed what was being sent in. The end result is that the proposal is more progressive than in prior years.

The administration is pursuing with PGCEA a change in the process itself. The bargaining history of our county has been built around “traditional” bargaining where one party or the other comes to the table with the answer in the form of a proposal to an identified problem. The administration would like to shift that culture to incorporate a style known as “Interest Based” bargaining. In this style of bargaining, the parties come to the table with an identified problem, not an answer and see if they can jointly reach an answer.

PGCEA proposed in the past that the parties move to the interest based process in order to change the bargaining culture. However, the administration in place at that time was unwilling to make a change.

While negotiators for PGCEA are encouraged by the overture to enter into a new approach, PGCEA also recognizes that the process will require a lot more time as the parties attempt to fully address the interest and concerns of both sides in a search for common ground.

As developments occur, they will be posted in the “Members Only” section.