Gloucester educators began work-to-rule actions on Friday to protest stalled contract negotiations between the Gloucester Teachers Association and the Gloucester School Committee.
Work-to-rule is when the teachers stop all services not required in the contract. Some examples of this are volunteering for field trips and clubs, writing letters of recommendation, extra help beyond contracted hours, and chaperoning after school events. Gloucester educators will work to rule one day a week. Each school will have a designated day. Gloucester High School’s day will be Thursday.
“We are frustrated with the pace of negotiations, and we’re also frustrated with some of the proposals that the School Committee has rejected,” GTA President Rachel Rex said. “We’d like to see more movement on proposals and in our negotiations.”
The School Committee released a statement saying they are “blindsided” by the decision, and “dispute any claim” that negotiations recently stalled.
During their previous collective bargaining meeting on September 23rd, the School Committee rejected multiple proposals made by the GTA. The two sides are far apart on wages, parental leave and family medical leave.
The School Committee offered teachers a three year contract with a 2.25% cost of living increase the first year, and 2.5% for each of the following two years. This brings the total increase to 7.25% by the end of the third year.
The statement on wages issued by the School Committee, as reported in Gloucester Daily Times, included step-and-track increases in their calculations, which estimates increases to be between 15% and 25% for less veteran teachers.
“School Committee math is baffling,” Rex said. “Step increases are well established in the contract and should not be included in any additional wage adjustment.”
Gloucester teachers have been without a contract since the end of August, and paraprofessionals for more than 400 days. The majority of teachers voted in favor of the work-to-rule one day a week action.
Although some union members have argued that the teachers should implement work-to-rule everyday, the main concern is the students.
“We want to make sure it’s a sustainable action for our members who are so dedicated to their students,” Rex said. “Teachers know that the students of Gloucester are the most important piece in this puzzle and we don’t want them to suffer.”
Rex said the union is committed to “negotiate in good faith,” and “never lose sight of what is important, the education, safety and support of its students.”
Three other North Shore school districts, Marblehead, Beverly, and Revere, also began work-to-rule this week.
The next negotiation session is scheduled for October 8th at 4:30 p.m. in the GHS library. Community members can attend in person, on zoom, or join by phone.
