Mediator to Decide School Officials, Union 403(b)
Dispute
July 22, 2009 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - In Indiana,
Tippecanoe School Corp. (TSC) officials and representatives
of Tippecanoe Education Association met with a state mediator
to discuss an impasse over teacher contract
language.
The Lafayette Courier & Journal reported the two
parties disagree on whether the district's new 403(b)
retirement plans should be negotiated as part of the master
teacher contract or whether the district should have full
control over changes to the plans. TSC adopted its provider
and plan in December.
The fact-finding hearing with James Dworkin of the
Indiana Education Employment Relations Board lasted about
an hour, according to the news report. He said he will make
a recommendation within a month.
Since new 403(b) regulations were passed in 2007, a
number of school districts have seen a backlash from
unions over vendor decisions, including Chicago (see
Chicago Teachers Union Opposes Move to
Central Recordkeeper
) and Baltimore (see
Baltimore School Officials Give Thumbs
Down on 403(b) Vendor Consolidation
), and districts in Virginia (see
Newport News School Employees Howl
against 403(b) Vendor Limits
), Minnesota (see
Minn. 403(b) Vendor Dispute Awaits
Judge's Ruling
), and New York (see
Utica Teachers' Union Opposes Exclusive
Vendor for 403(b)
).
Rebecca Moore
editors@plansponsor.com