No contract in place, teachers 'work to rule'

John Howell
Posted 9/3/15

Warwick teachers returned to classrooms across the city yesterday without a contract, raising the probability that “work to rule” could become the practice until the parties reach …

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No contract in place, teachers 'work to rule'

Posted

Warwick teachers returned to classrooms across the city yesterday without a contract, raising the probability that “work to rule” could become the practice until the parties reach agreement.

That was the case at several schools – both elementary and secondary – where teachers congregated outside buildings yesterday until the contracted starting time. Similarly, teachers left as soon as the day was done.

In the immediate future, a “work to rule” action would mean teachers might not be in attendance for open houses. Long range, should an agreement elude parties, teachers might not engage in such extra efforts as writing references for seniors seeking to gain college admission or attending school events that are apart from specified in the contract, which expired Aug. 31.

Warwick Teachers Union President George Landrie had no comment on the status of contract talks or actions taken by teachers.

At Pilgrim High School, an estimated 90 teachers waited in a line outside the building yesterday until the official start of school and then marched in to be greeted by school administrators. The demonstration of solidarity was orderly, even friendly, as teachers and staff renewed acquaintances after a summer vacation.

But there was also an underlying tone of uncertainty and frustration.

“This is sad,” said Alan Palazzo, an 18-year teacher in the Warwick system, “because of what the School Committee is doing.”

He said the committee is seeking to strip language from the contract that enables teachers to identify “chronically disruptive students.” When that happens, he said, those students would be removed from the classroom so as not to impair learning for the rest of the class.

“Class weighting,” which counts students with an IEP, or individual education plan, as more than one student in establishing class size maximums, has been identified as a key feature of the contract that the committee would like to eliminate. Weighting is a unique feature of the Warwick contract. Also, factoring in discussions with the closure of Aldrich and Gorton Junior High Schools and Veterans High School next year is the current contract provision limiting the committee to 20 layoffs in a single year.

Palazzo called cuts being proposed by the committee, as outlined by union representatives earlier this week, “draconian.”

“Everything we fought for in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s is being cut,” he said.

In an interview Tuesday, School Committee Chair Jennifer Ahearn said all internal negotiations with the union have ceased, and the committee has requested mediation.

Ahearn said the committee is vying for the best outcomes for students and staff and would continue to work “in good faith to resolve the issues with a mediator’s support, and we hope there will be a positive resolution.”

Andrew Henneous, legal counsel for the committee, said the parties have agreed on attorney Vincent Ragosta as mediator.

Henneous described contract negotiations thus far as cordial and the purpose of mediation being “to jump start” the bargaining process. Should an agreement not be reached with mediation, the next step would be arbitration, which he explained is binding on both parties with the exception of financial issues.

Asked what guides the work process as the contract has expired, Henneous said that certain provisions of the former contract remain in effect.

“We’re going into this in good faith,” he said.

In an interview after the opening of school, interim Superintendent William Holland said teacher actions would indicate they are “working to rule.”

“The teachers were very respectful and acted as professionals,” he said.

Yet, he said, some teachers were late in getting to their class, and to ensure schools start on time he may seek “adjustments” on when school starts and ends.

As for the prospect that teachers may not attend open houses, he said open houses would be held as scheduled, although “teachers may not be there.”

“I think we have to let mediation take its course,” he said.

Nisa San Giovanni was among the Pilgrim teachers waiting outside the school yesterday. Pointing to contracts with other municipal employees, she feels teachers are not being treated fairly.

Nicholas DiFilippo, who has taught in the system for 25 years, called the 28-per-class maximum “fine” when the ranks don’t include students with special needs. In working to rule, he said, teachers “are not going to do things from the heart.”

Pam Bernardi, interim Pilgrim principal, said, “Teachers need to be heard.”

She said the teacher actions did not impair the opening of Pilgrim. She said teachers are respectful and responsible professionals, “and I support them.”

Comments

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  • Justanidiot

    **sigh**

    Thursday, September 3, 2015 Report this

  • patientman

    Whether IEP weighting is going to be in Warwick schools or not should be in line with all the schools in RI.

    Thursday, September 3, 2015 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    Is drawing a penis on a student's arm in the rules somewhere?

    Covering up the incident must be, right?

    Thursday, September 3, 2015 Report this

  • JohnStark

    If teachers wish to enter their buildings at the very second required by contract, fine. If they wish to leave at the second they are allowed by contract, fine. No letters of recommendation to colleges? Fine, too. Let's just refrain from the tired "...it's all for the children" mantra because it very clearly is not. This article highlights the reason why public sector unions have been obsolete for the better part of two decades. As for Mr. DiFilippo's comment that teachers "are not going to do things from the heart"; If "things" are not done one must question whether they were from the heart in the first place.

    Thursday, September 3, 2015 Report this

  • allent

    scumbag public unions just won't stop unless they become illegal.

    Thursday, September 3, 2015 Report this

  • PaulHuff

    Didn't all the other City unions take no raises and provided givebacks from 2012-2015?

    Didn't the teachers take raises during that same period of time?

    Sorry guys.....it's your turn.

    Friday, September 4, 2015 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    I remember when teachers dressed like professionals. You act like you dress and if you go to school dressed up like a bunch of third graders in your t-shirts and shorts, you are going to act like a bunch of kids.

    Grow up.

    Friday, September 4, 2015 Report this

  • HerbTokerman

    Teachers and all public employees in general shouldn't have contracts, like 99% of other jobs in the real world.

    Lay out the terms of their employment, if they don't want the job fire them and there will be a bunch of young motivated minds fresh out of school that will be more than willing to take the jobs.

    Friday, September 4, 2015 Report this

  • wwkvoter

    There are issues on both sides, but the teachers may be correct about the "chronically disruptive student" issue, if it is as reported above.

    Tuesday, September 8, 2015 Report this

  • leekhat

    Please have more respect for the teaching profession so the students' will. Volunteer at your local school if you can or at least talk to a teacher to find out the challenges of being an educator.

    Wednesday, September 9, 2015 Report this

  • RISchadenfreude

    "Work to rule", because it obviously isn't enough to have every weekend, holiday, vacation day and Summer off and still get paid for an entire year. My parents wouldn't have let me out the door for school if I dressed the way these sorry-sack teachers are dressed...

    It's ironic that teaching is one of the easiest degrees to get, and we don't expect more thoughtfulness and intelligence from them when they're molding our children.

    Has anyone else noticed the "coincidental" call for student class size reduction any time a municipality deems school closings necessary? The teachers' unions always call for reduction in class size so that more room will be needed for the dwindling number of students in an effort to keep all the schools open and their members employed.

    At the very least, let's impose competency tests and alcohol / drug testing for so-called "educators".

    Wednesday, September 9, 2015 Report this