Contract negotiations drag on for Gloucester Educators

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VINCENZO CIARAMITARO

The library was packed with educators and supporters as the two sides negotiated.

Roughly 250 educators and supporters packed the GHS library to hear contract negotiations between the Gloucester Teachers Association  and the Gloucester School Committee Monday night. 

After 9 bargaining sessions the two sides have made progress on some issues, but they are far apart on others such as wages, family medical leave, and parental leave. 

The school committee rejected GTA proposals for family medical leave and paid parental leave, and offered 5 days of parental leave in lieu of the proposed twelve weeks. They also presented a wage proposal that included a 7.25 percent increase, spread out over a three year contract, with a 2.25 percent increase the first year, and 2.5 percent increase for years two and three.  This is well below the 5, 6 and 7 percent increases proposed by the teachers. 

“We are very disappointed in the offer that the school committee made to us,” GHS history teacher and bargaining team member Richard Francis said.  “We are a group of hardworking professionals who are educating the children of this community. We believe we deserve a fair contract, which is not what was offered to us.” 

According to data presented at the meeting, Gloucester educators are one of the lowest paid in the region  The teachers have been without a contract since August, and paraprofessionals have been without one for more than 400 days.

“Paraprofessionals are the lifeblood of our daily lives,” said O’Maley teacher and Union Vice President Matt Lewis. “We are facing a crisis. We are hemorrhaging ESPs, and if we don’t fix that, we are going to hemorrhage educators too.” 

Resident Martin Del Vecchio, whose children were educated in the Gloucester school system, attended the meeting to support teachers.

“I don’t want to hear about any more Gloucester teachers and paras leaving for other districts because they can’t afford to work here,” he said.  “I want the school committee to negotiate a fair contract that recognizes their value to the community. Unfortunately, that’s not what I heard when I observed the negotiations on Monday.”

The package presented to the School Committee comes after more than 300 teachers – 99 percent of union members – voted to support it.  The Union will meet Monday, September 30th to discuss plans for ongoing negotiations.