Teachers, School Board Meeting In Second Session With Mediator

Negotiators for the Board of Education and the Ann Arboi Education Association (AAEA were meeting again today wit! State Mediator Robert Black well in an attempt to reach a settlement for a 1968-69 con tract. Blackwell arrived in Ann Ar bor about 11 a.m. yesterday. He met with both parties throughout the rest of the day. A news blackout on the progress of the talks is being maintained, though AAEA Executive Secretary James Scheu said this morning he "still has every hope that this can be resolved through mediation." A mediator was jointly requested by both sides July 23 when it became apparent they were stalemated on economie issues. In an interview yesterday afte r n o o n, Blackwell expressed hope he could "bring the parties together and reach an agreement." If the parties want to resolve this, I see no reason why a settlement cannot be worked out," he said. Blackwell a d d e d, however, that "time is running out" for an agreement to be reached if school is to start on time in September. The mediator said mediation often continúes round-the-clock until "we reach an impasse or come to a breakthrough poini for a settlement." Blackwell said he is prepared to stay at the negotiating table until late today or the early morning Ihours tomorrow in an attemp1 to get a settlement. He is scheduled to medíate other teacher talks tomorrow, however, and for the next week or two. If a settlement is not reached today or tomorrow, Blackwell said he could probably meet again with the negotiating teams, perhaps in Detroit, at a later date. Blackwell has been meeting privately with both groups since yesterday morning. He assesses his job as "assisting the parties to get together and arrive at an agreement both sides want. A mediator tries to keep the lines of communication open." None of the mediator's recommendations for an equitable settlement is legally binding, though Blackwell said both lides could voluntarily agree So accept them as such. Thej mediator's recommenda t i o n s are not made public. Blackwell believes mediation is becoming more and more "common" these days in teacher-school board talks. There has been an "unprecedented demand" for mediators in school negotiations during July and' August, he added. Why the increased popularity of mediators? The main reason, of course, was the passage of the law in 1965 giving public employés the right to formally bargain for contracts. Moreover, Blackwell thinks school negotiators are becoming more "sophisticated" today, and also have become increasingly confident of the mediation process. He said there have been more requests for mediators this yeár than any year since 1965. Blackwell. 41. is a former executive secretary of the State Mediation Board. He became a special mediator for the mediation board in July, 1967. He formerly was associated with Chrysler Corp. Blackwell said he mediates mainly in the public sector, such as teacher negotiations, and in building trades talks. This summer, he has mediated teacher talks in Saline, Midland, Flint, Vassar, Kingston and Oscoda, to name a few. Blackwell is a city councilman in his home town of Highland Park. This is the first time negotiators for the Board of Education and AAEA have requested mediation. A contract settlement was reached last summer without the help of a mediator. The two sides were about $800,000 apart on salaries and fringe benefits when mediation started. Most non-economie issues have already been settled.