Gloucester students have been out of school for three days due to the little progress made during mediation between the Union of Gloucester Educators and the School Committee.
Key issues such as wages, paid parental leave and equitable elementary hours remain unresolved.
Last night, a few paraprofessionals and administrators bargained face-to-face, with the aid of the state appointed mediator.
“Tonight we came to an agreement with the Gloucester Association of Educational Paraprofessionals on expanded sick leave bank withdrawal,” School Committee Chairman Kathleen Clancy wrote in a statement released yesterday.
The main point of contention between the two sides are wages. Under the union’s wage proposal, educators would receive a 21% salary increase over 4 years, 5.25% each year.
“To fund this proposal, we would have two options: either a proposition 2.5 override which would permanently raise property taxes, or substantial cuts to vital city services.” Mayor Greg Verga said during a press conference last night.
The School Committee estimates a potential tax increase of 400 dollars per year for the average Gloucester resident. Additionally, an estimated 8 or more teachers would be laid off each year.
Paraprofessionals’ salaries are another sticking point for the union.
“I know that my pay does not reflect my value to my students, but the School Committee apparently feels differently,” paraprofessional Janelle Jackson said at last night’s union press conference. “I have worked in this district for 10 years. I earn 24,420 dollars per year. That means that I am paid 746.20 dollars every two weeks.”
These key issues are not unique to Gloucester, with striking districts, Marblehead and Beverly, also looking to settle contracts.
On Monday, educators from all three unions met over Zoom to report the progress of their respective negotiations and answer community members’ questions.
“When we see beloved Gloucester educators leaving our district, making tens of thousands of dollars on day one, in a different district, it breaks our hearts,” UGE Co-President Rachel Rex said during the meeting. “We are at a breaking point…There is no law firm in the world that can break the resolve of these educators.”
Mediation resumed this morning and is expected to continue throughout the day. The Superintendent will notify families by 6:00 p.m. to announce the status of school for tomorrow.
KAV • Nov 13, 2024 at 2:42 pm
If you don’t have enough money to fully fund schools and pay professional wages then that is your actual problem; not the teachers. I’m an educator different district but I am a parent in another striking district. Things must change.
This hunger games-esque competition for resources has gone on too long. We’ve heard for years how if we don’t capitulate then there will be more cuts. So they leverage our guilt and care for students to exploit our labor.
There is nothing left to cut. Teachers have been asked for decades to sacrifice because “we don’t do it for the money”. Over the past few years the job itself has become harder than it has ever been. Teachers are not martyrs and should be paid what our education and experience warrants.
It would be great if district leadership could realize we are all on the same side; that of the students who deserve fully funded safe schools.