The Pinellas teachers union has accused district officials of unfair labor practices hours after receiving a notice of the district’s intent to adjust teachers’ paychecks to reflect a decline in property values.

The decline affects the salary supplement generated by a tax referendum based on the value of .5 mills levied each year on taxable property in Pinellas County. Beginning this month, 11.5- and 12-month instructional personnel will receive about $12 less per paycheck, or $290 plus benefits -- for a total of $341 -- for 2009-10. Ten-month employees will feel the pinch beginning in August.

“Unfortunately, there is no money remaining in referendum balances this year to offset this loss,” the district’s chief negotiator wrote in the notice that was sent to school principals and district officials earlier today.

PCTA posted on its Web site that “such action is a unilateral decision made outside the bargaining process and constitutes an unfair labor practice.”

Insisting that teacher salaries, including the supplement generated by referendum dollars, are listed on the salary schedule found in Appendix A of the agreement between the School Board and the teachers union, their argument continues:

“ … that salary cannot be adjusted until negotiations are completed and a mutual salary schedule has been reached or a salary schedule has been imposed through the bargaining impasse procedures found in Chapter 447, Florida Statutes.”

The post concludes: “PCTA will be pursuing all courses of action to remedy this unilateral decision made by (Ron) Stone on behalf of the School Board.

Asked how far the union is willing to take its argument, union president Kim Black told the Gradebook: “As far as we need to. As far as necessary to maintain the protection of our salary schedule.”

To view previous Times coverage of the situation, click here.

Donna Winchester, Pinellas education reporter