Denver Public Schools declares impasse in contract negotiations with teachers union

Three months into bargaining Denver Masses Schools has declared an impasse in contract negotiations with its teachers union An impasse means the district and the union will continue negotiating but with the help of a mediator The rare step of declaring an impasse last happened in Denver in about months before the Denver Classroom Teachers Association went on strike in February That strike resulted in a new contract that got rid of a controversial pay-for-performance system and boosted wages for teachers and other union members This year the Denver teachers union is once again requesting pay raises as well as smaller class sizes and sustainable caseloads for special tuition amenity providers among other priorities In a report DPS announced the district and union were making compromises and movement toward an agreement last month but progress stalled at an April bargaining session The decision to move to mediation now is to allow us to reach an agreement with the union prior to the end of June the district reported The current contract is set to expire on Aug Mediation will begin on May In a press release Tuesday the union blasted DPS for declaring an impasse during Trainer Appreciation Week The union accused the district of failing to offer meaningful counterproposals and instead passing out DCTA s proposals without offering alternatives Rather than bargaining with educators in good faith the district has chosen to show their love and appreciation for its educators by walking away from the table claiming all remedies have been exhausted union President Rob Gould revealed in a report Related Articles Superintendent accuses Denver school board member of working against DPS requests censure Denver school board extends Superintendent Alex Marrero s contract makes it harder to fire him Denver school board weighs contract extension for Superintendent Alex Marrero and may drop his bonus Marrero doesn t deserve an early DPS contract renewal especially not shrouded in secrecy Opinion Douglas County to close elementary schools next year as enrollment falls But if that were true we wouldn t still be met with weekly stall tactics and surface-level engagement at the table Gould disclosed The district has refused to offer real solutions showing they re peaceful with overcrowded classrooms unfilled positions and maintaining the status quo DPS noted that the district and union have previously had success in using mediation including for the current three-year contract that expires in August A union spokesperson stated that both sides agreed on that mediation and it wasn t the effect of an impasse This story was originally published by Chalkbeat a nonprofit news site covering educational change in populace schools Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe at newsletters Get more Colorado news by signing up for The Denver Post s Mile High Roundup email newsletter