GothamSchools — daily independent reporting on NYC public schools

The union representing New York City public school principals and administrators announced today that it has hit a major roadblock in negotiations for a new contract.

Union members received a new contract — gaining a 23 percent raise and forfeiting some seniority rights — in 2007. That deal expired in March 2010 and the union has been negotiating a new contract ever since.

But talks stalled and last month, the union asked the New York State Public Employment Relations Board to declare an impasse. Yesterday, PERB agreed and is now recommending that a mediator take over to jump-start negotiations. If mediation fails, the contract talks would enter fact-finding and arbitration, a complex process that would likely push a new contract far into the future.

“We met with the city several times and were unable to reach an agreement going forward,” said Council of School Supervisors and Administrators spokeswoman Chiara Coletti. ”The negotiations were going nowhere.” (more…)