TEACHERS REJECT CONTRACT PALMDALE DEADLOCK LONGEST IN 15 YEARS.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Palmdale School District teachers overwhelmingly voted to reject a proposed contract that offered no raise and opened the possibility they would have to pay part of their health-insurance premium in 2007-08.

Turnout was around 80 percent among the 1,000-plus Palmdale teachers, with 602 voting against the proposed pact and 218 voting for it.

``The teachers are tired and disappointed in how they are being treated, and we want to recapture the respect of teachers again,'' said Simone Zulu, president of the Palmdale Elementary Teachers Association.

Union officials met Monday about the vote, which took place over two days last week. Union leaders recommended that teachers not work in summer school or intersession classes as a form of protest, Zulu said.

District officials said they were disappointed in the vote, which came seven months after negotiations between teachers and officials deadlocked.

``It's a clear sign about how strongly teachers feel about having the most generous benefits package in the Antelope Valley,'' Assistant Superintendent Roger Gallizzi said. ``We are very disappointed that the district can't focus on what is the real mission, which is student achievement.''

A state mediator will now decide whether to make both sides meet again to try to reach another settlement or certify the district for fact- finding, Gallizzi said.

``In fact-finding, the district and the union create a panel of three outside experts who listen to the facts presented by the union and by the district, and then they make a recommendation to the board as to what to do,'' Gallizzi said.

The school board can accept, reject or modify the recommendation and impose a contract settlement unilaterally. Union members can strike if they are opposed to the contract, Gallizzi said.

Under the tentative agreement, beginning in 2007-08, the district would have paid for health insurance coverage up to the highest rate that was offered the previous year.

When rates went up beyond that cap, teachers would have to pay part of the premium out of their own pockets or choose an insurance plan that costs less, or both sides could negotiate raising the district's maximum contribution.

The board already has set $15,550 as the maximum the district will pay annually for health insurance for nonteaching workers and management staff.

``The teachers didn't want a cap. They have given up raises for several years to maintain the benefits. That's one of the attraction points in this district for most people,'' Zulu said.

She added: ``They felt: Why are we putting a cap on '07-08 when that's three years away, and you don't know what the situation is going to be? For us to make a decision that far, they didn't understand and didn't support it.''

The contract vote came seven months after impasse was first declared. The deadlock was the longest in teacher contract talks in the district in at least 15 years.

Teachers were asking for fully paid medical insurance and a 4 percent raise if funds materialized for a pay hike other than so-called ``step-and-column'' increases for lengthier service and additional university credits. Teachers have gone the past four years without a general pay hike, and some teachers have not had any increases. They can reach a maximum in some column and not get any raise unless there is a general one, officials explained.

Officials have said the district can't afford a raise and they need to set a limit on employer contributions toward teachers' health insurance.

Since the impasse was declared last November, teachers and parents have showed up at board meetings to protest cuts in jobs and programs and stalled contract talks.

As part of a protest, a majority of teachers at most schools also stopped giving after-school tutoring, helping out in other teachers' classes and doing any work not spelled out in their contracts, union officials said.

The Palmdale school board on March 1 approved $5.7 million in spending cuts for next school year, eliminating funding for elementary school music programs, school counselors and school librarians.

Funding for about 37 teaching or other professional positions was cut, including money for preschool instructors, nurses, music teachers, psychologists, counselors and special-education teachers.

Karen Maeshiro, [phone]

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com