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September 28, 2007
V.I. Government hammers out four-year contract with Education Administrators Association (EEA) Union The Virgin Islands Government has reached a new four-year contract with the Educational Administrators Association, the union which represents coordinators, subject area supervisors, assistant principals and principals in the public education system and the V.I. Department of Education. Chief Labor Negotiator Jessica Gallivan said the talks ended successfully on August 25. "The EAA which represents about 130 members last negotiated a contract that had a term from October 1, 1997 to September 30, 2004. Some of the EAA members had not had a salary adjustment since 2001 and none since October 1, 2003." During negotiations, the EAA waived the right to bargain for any salary increases for the period October 1, 2004 to September 30, 2006. In exchange, the Government agreed to a FY 2007 pay plan that sees coordinators and subject area supervisors’ salaries range from $59,000 to $89,216; assistant principals’ salaries will range from $61,000 to $90,173 and principals’ salaries will range from $63,500 to $93,868, all depending on years of experience. Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. expressed his satisfaction at the government’s reaching agreement with the EAA union on a new contract. "These are the persons at the head of our public schools that determine the direction of specific program and subject area initiatives. They play a pivotal role in the overall direction of each of our schools and I am pleased at the end results of the negotiations." deJongh also expressed his thanks to the Chief Negotiator Jessica Gallivan and her staff, Acting Education Commissioner Lynn Spampinato, and EAA district presidents Rosa White and Carver Farrow who contributed to a successful negotiations process. Gallivan also said that language agreements in the new contract also seek to bring efficiency and accountability to the administration of the schools. "Annual increases are subject to a satisfactory or better performance rating and provided that the employees meet all qualifications specified by the V.I. Board of Education." The tentative agreement was signed on August 25 by the Chief Negotiator and the EAA representatives. The EAA notified the government of its ratification action within a one week period and deJongh signed the contract on September 4th. |
