Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) has decided to increase the public awareness on their 3-year-long teacher's contract negotiations with Buffalo Public Schools by placing billboards around the City of Buffalo.
BTF President Phil Rumore says that Buffalo public school teacher's are well behind what other teachers are being paid locally and statewide. "All that Buffalo Teachers are asking for is to be valued, like other districts value their employees, and to be paid commensurate with them."
The signs read: "Buffalo's teachers and students are not worth 38% less." This is reference to the federation's data showing that surrounding districts and the other big districts statewide are averaging 38 percent more salary-wise than what Buffalo teachers are being paid currently.
In continued efforts between both parties to reach a fair deal, the parties recently completed a fact finding process with an outside third party.
"We've submitted our documentation and had a hearing with the fact finder," says Rumore. "He has all the information and we expect for him to release recommendations of what he believes will be a fair settlement within the next two weeks."
Rumore mentions that that his recommendations are not binding, but will help aid in the negotiating process going forward.
In a recent report, it has been suggested that Nathaniel Kuzma, General Counsel for Buffalo Public Schools, said the BTF has made no mention of the particular 38 percent less statistic during the fact finding process.
Rumore responds, "They are. We have the data to show that. The bottom line is this, we are way behind. It also takes our teachers so much longer to reach maximum [salary] 27 years instead of 20 or 15 years in other districts."
Rumore has acknowledged that negotiations have improved since Dr. Tonja Williams has taken the position as superintendent of the school district, but clear contention lies between Kuzma and Rumore.
"When we see things like what's been said publicly by their chief negotiator, which are, as far as I'm concerned, lies, that doesn't sit well. But if it wasn't for the fact that the superintendent was now more engaged in negotiations, things would not be going as well as they are now," says Rumore.
When asked whether he sees a realistic timetable for ending the negotiation process, Rumore is certainly hopeful.
"I think with the new superintendent and the school board, they have been listening a little bit more," he said. "I think with the new superintendent and the school board, I think there's a chance."