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February 29, 2008 V.I. GOVERNMENT AND AFT TO RESUME NEGOTIATIONS ON MARCH 26; GOVERNOR AND UNION LEADERS OPTIMISTIC AFTER TODAY’S MEETING
Governor John deJongh Jr. met Friday with the leadership of the Federation of Teachers union and an agreement was reached by both sides to resume negotiations with a focus on wage discussions. "I was pleased at the opportunity to meet with both Mr. Tyrone Molyneaux and Mrs. Vernelle de Lagarde to discuss not only the differences that have caused the apparent breakdown in negotiations but to see how we can resume discussions towards a new contract for the teachers, support staff and paraprofessionals," deJongh said at the conclusion of the three-hour meeting. DeJongh, joined at the meeting by Acting Education Commissioner Dr. LaVerne Terry and Chief Labor Negotiator Jessica Gallivan, said both sides agreed to remove all pending proposals from the table as the talks resume on March 26. "These were the proposals over which the parties disagreed whether we had reached an impasse. With these issues removed, the parties can return to the table. The negotiating team will therefore resume talks on March 26, 2008 for three days and at all previously scheduled dates in the months of April and May." Additionally, the St. Thomas-St. John Federation of Teachers union President Vernelle de Lagarde has agreed to recommend to her membership the extension of the union’s expired contract until May 31 to coincide with the current expiration date of the St. Croix AFT contract. "We have long awaited the opportunity to discuss with the Governor where we stand on negotiations. The contract extension recommendation is based on this meeting taking place," de Lagarde said Friday. Both deJongh and the union leaders exited the meeting optimistic of the day’s developments: that both sides are returning to the table to resume negotiations. "I commend Governor deJongh, the Chief Labor Negotiator and Dr. Terry for the leadership they demonstrated in bringing us to this meeting in an attempt to resolve the issues," according to Tyrone Molyneaux, President of the Local 1826 and AFT Chief Negotiator. Molyneaux also urged his membership, parents and students to get ready for next week’s standardized testing." The meeting, held at the Catharineberg residence on St. Thomas, came at the request of the union leaders and the invitation of the governor and after it became clear that talks towards a new professional contract had broken down. The negotiations have been underway since June 2007. |
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