Negotiations between the Union of Gloucester Educators and the School Committee ended in a stalemate Saturday night.
“For 3 days we have been ready to get this contract settled, tonight we are still on strike,” GTA president Rachel Rex said. “Mayor Verga and the School Committee continue to shirk their responsibilities to bargain with urgency.”
“The School Committee treated today’s bargaining session like a game,” Rex said at last night’s press conference. “They refused to meet us face to face, they rejected counterproposal after counterproposal. They think the years we’ve spent in negotiations is enough face time.”
Gloucester educators have been on strike since Thursday, with the UGE and the School Committee far apart on issues regarding wages, school safety, equitable elementary hours and paid parental leave.
In a message to families yesterday, School Committee member Kathleen Clancy said she hoped “today would include steps forward on the key issues that have divided us for over six months.”
“Those issues are salary, new benefits, and important collaboration time for our teachers,” Clancy said in the update to Gloucester families. “The GTA decided instead to focus on items like email response time and personal days.”
Currently, all negotiations between the Union and the School Committee are being handled by a state mediator.
An injunction issued by the state court on Friday, ordered the return of teachers and paraprofessionals to school on Tuesday.
“We were made aware of that injunction earlier today and we are grateful for the additional time that they have given us to try to settle this contract,” Rex said during Friday’s press conference. “We will be back at work as soon as we are able to settle our contract.”
Mediation will resume today.
Educators will be demonstrating around town throughout the weekend. On Monday, there will be a rally at Stage Fort Park which will include educators from Beverly and Marblehead who are also on strike.
