ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La. (WGNO) — For the first time in over 30 years, St. Tammany Parish School District School employees will no longer work under a cooperative bargaining agreement and instead will work under an employee handbook.
This decision was announced by the school board following an executive session, effectively ending their union.
St. Tammany Federation of Teachers and School Employees President Brant Osborn says this decision came as a total shock as there was no discussion of a potential switch prior to that night.
“It really just blindsided me and immediately I knew the game was fixed. I knew this was a bad faith move. It was a trap,” Osborn said.
However, St. Tammany Parish Superintendent Frank Jabbia says that the decision was a surprise to him too. He added that the switch to a handbook was not made by the board prior to the executive session.
“I would not have wasted my time. I would have told the board members ‘I’m not wasting my time’ if this was pre-determined. I would have asked them to come to the public and be transparent that this is something they wanted to happen and to do that,” Jabbia said.
When it comes to what will be put into the handbook, Jabbia says he plans to take input from all employees across the school district and make sure to replicate the CBA as much as possible.
“Our employees have every right that is due to them, that is given to them by the CBA, that’s been given to them by their employment; so our job is going to be to create an employee contract handbook that replicates all those rights that they have and nothing will change for us.”
However, Osborn says it is either the CBA or nothing.
“Work stoppage I always see as the nuclear option, but all things have to be considered; but there are a number of ways I think to creatively protest as well and we’re going to explore all options, but I feel as if this is deeply unethical what has happened here. Possibly illegal,” Osborn said.
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