‘Go on with bargaining process but be less adversarial’

Former congressman and education commissioner William S. Torres encouraged teachers to go ahead with their collective bargaining process but in a manner that is “progressive” and “less adversarial.”

“Let’s make it work. I think we’re getting there. Let’s present the issues. Let’s be less adversarial and be more progressive,” said Torres, who was the guest speaker in last Saturday’s teachers’ meeting at the Multi-Purpose Hall in Susupe.

The meeting, organized by PSS teacher representative Ambrose Bennett, was attended by over 20 teachers, mostly teacher representatives from different schools.

Torres said the group needs to work with the system “because the system works.”

“There may be flaws but it works,” said Torres.

During his remarks, he said the issue of exclusive bargaining power for teachers was never raised or pushed during his time. “Well, it must begin somewhere,” he added.

Bennett had earlier asked Torres to help him explain to teachers the issue on exclusive bargaining, which has been controversial with the PSS and the Board of Education.

Bennett said that Torres’ background and actual participation in the constitutional convention—particularly Article 15, the Education Amendment—makes him a credible resource person on the subject.

Bennett noted earlier that he was concerned about BOE’s apprehension to even recognize a bargaining agent even if both the CNMI and federal laws guarantee teachers’ rights to bargain.

Meantime, after Torres left the meeting on Saturday, Hopwood Junior High School teacher Joe Connolly stood up to question Bennett’s mandate as a teacher representative.

He said that getting only less than 30 percent of eligible teachers is by no means a clear mandate for leadership.

“My concern is that Mr. Bennett has in no way a mandate for leadership from the rank-and-file 70 percent of teachers employed by PSS. To allow him to continue to or claim to speak for the body of teachers en masse is to ignore much more than a majority of these teachers,” said Connolly.

About 200 of 500 eligible teachers cast their votes from Saipan, Tinian, and Rota during the election for a teacher representative on Jan. 19, which was sponsored by the Governor’s Office. Bennett received 78 votes or 16 votes more than his electoral rival, James Yangetmai of Marianas High School.

Connolly said that, to be a majority, there should be at least 51 percent of eligible voters participating in the election.

But Connolly’s position was not shared by the rest of the teachers in the meeting. A teacher told him to be “reasonable.”

“If you wait for everybody’s convenience, nothing would happen. Come on, be reasonable,” a colleague said.

During the meeting, teachers openly suggested to Bennett to stop using “I” when talking and writing about teachers’ concerns.

A teacher observed that Bennett has made BOE turn against him because of his confrontational or adversarial approach.

Mary Binauea of Dandan Elementary School also suggested that Bennett step back a little and give the school teacher representatives the chance to work.

“You can attend school meetings, but let the teacher representatives run it themselves, not you,” she said.

Bennett, in an interview, said he appreciates the teachers’ comments during the meeting. “I think it’s better that we have this open discussion so I’m hearing it directly from them. We’re all learning,” he said.