I think that's just Rhee being dumb. You're in a negotiation. Of course they're going to say they can't accept this, until they do. Union staff almost never bar

I think that's just Rhee being dumb. You're in a negotiation. Of course they're going to say they can't accept this, until they do. Union staff almost never bargain contracts anyway. Typically it's done by a bargaining committee consisting of members, some of whom are elected officers but mostly just volunteers.