While the majority of NYSUT members went back to school with labor agreements in place, problems remain and several locals are still embroiled in marathon negotiations.

NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi said the numbers show that, for the most part, unions and management are settling their differences so they can work together to raise student achievement.

"It is a measure of the commitment that unions and many school boards have to improving student achievement that they are rolling up their sleeves and settling contracts, so they may continue to work side by side in the best interests of children," Iannuzzi said.

About 85 percent of the state's 227,000 classroom teachers and tens of thousands of other educators will go back to school with labor agreements in place. School boards and teacher unions in more than 60 districts reached new contract agreements in May and June. In addition, dozens of locals are expected to ratify new contracts in the first month or two of the new school year.

One such local is the Yonkers Federation of Teachers. As New York Teacher went to press, the union, led by Pat Puleo, was planning to vote on a tentative four-year agreement.

While Yonkers has had its share of drawn-out, contentious negotiations, this time around the superintendent was eager to settle a new agreement before the start of the school year.

"It's unique in this town, but it's a wonderful way to open the school year," Puleo said. "Our business is education and school boards should see that having a contract in place for the staff is to the benefit of the children."

Negotiations can be tough, Iannuzzi said, but many locals are enjoying a period of labor peace.

"School boards and teacher unions see the benefits of cooperation and discussion in working their way to agreements that ultimately serve children and local schools," he said.

The contract picture is still unclear for about 75,000 K-12 teachers and other educators still working under the terms of expired agreements. NYSUT's two largest higher education locals, United University Professions and the Professional Staff Congress, are both currently negotiating for a new contract.

This year's numbers compiled by NYSUT for the first time include contract information on about 250 bargaining units added last year as a result of the unification between NYSUT and the National Education Association of New York.

Nearly 300 of the 438 open contracts have only expired since June 30. A greater cause for concern, Iannuzzi said, are the 97 contracts that expired in June 2006 and the 43 that expired in June 2005 or earlier.

"Unfortunately, we still see some school boards and other employers whose main agenda is to drive down salaries and cut benefits for hard-working teachers and support staff," Iannuzzi said.

A slow Pace

For three years, Pace University in Westchester County and New York City has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to avoid bargaining contracts with its adjunct faculty and campus bus drivers and mechanics. "Respect for workers and for fair play should be bedrock principles of any great university," Iannuzzi said.

Nearly 400 NYSUT members rallied recently at the New Jersey office of Aniello Bianco, chairman of the Pace University Board of Trustees.

"We deserve to be treated as professionals and compensated fairly by this university," said John Pawlowski, president of the Union of Adjunct Faculty at Pace. "We voted for the union and we will do what's necessary to convince the administration they need to reach agreements with us." UAFP represents more than 1,000 adjunct faculty at Pace's three campuses.

Jaime Cruz, president of the Pace Transportation Union, said all Pace employees "feel great frustration at their legal delays in recognizing our rights and our needs. Drop the lawsuits, come to the table, address our concerns."

Both unions affiliated with NYSUT several years ago and are still seeking a first contract.

A closer look at the statewide collective bargaining picture will run in the Sept. 20 New York Teacher.

— Clarisse Butler Banks