WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News LeaderBay Teachers Union Backs BESPA

After months of arguing with Bay District officials, the Bay Education Support Personnel Association (BESPA) got a major endorsement on Tuesday.  

At the Bay District School Board meeting, the teacher's union, the Association of Bay County Educators (ABCE) publicly announced its support for BESPA. The support employee union has been in negotiations with the district since last fall and the main setback is the possibility of privatizing transportation, custodial and food services. ABCE President Diane Wishart says in situations like these, all unions need to stick together.  

"We are one union advocating on behalf of the students of Bay County and our members. We recognize that if something negative happens to one of us, it will surely affect all of us. Thus, the executive board of ABCE would like to say that we support BESPA and will help in any way that we can," Wishart said at the meeting. 

The school district and BESPA are currently at an impasse for the second time this year and are waiting for a special magistrate to help in the negotiations.