In an effort to resolve the contract impasse between the Neshaminy School District and the 600-plus member Neshaminy Federation of Teachers (NFT), a state fact-finder has been requested.
Superintendent Joseph Jones III and union President Tara Huber confirmed to LevittownNow.com Wednesday that both sides have requested the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board appoint a third-party fact-finder.
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Jones said he welcomed the fact-finder to help both sides come to an agreement.
The fact-finder is expected to meet with both sides on September 13, Huber said.
By the end of September, the fact-finder will issue a report that can be used as a framework for a contract or as the contract.
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Both the school board and union will get the opportunity to vote on the contract. If neither side agrees with the fact-finder’s report, the contract dispute will forge on.
The most recent contract was for one year and expired at the end of June. In 2015, one-year deal did not include a base salary increase and secured that teachers had adequate preparation periods.
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Appointing a fact-finder is option for both the district and union when contract negotiations are at an impasse. The state-appointed fact-finder looks at contract proposals and makes recommendations based on them. If both sides accept the fact-finder report, it becomes binding. If rejected, the report can be used to put together a contract while negotiations continue.
Recently, the Bristol Township and Pennsbury used fact-finders when negotiating their contracts with their teachers’ unions.
