Last Wednesday was the first day of school for Warwick students and another dead-end for teacher contract talks. The parties met for more than three hours on the one-year anniversary of the expiration of the agreement, which the union
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Last Wednesday was the first day of school for Warwick students and another dead-end for teacher contract talks.
The parties met for more than three hours on the one-year anniversary of the expiration of the agreement, which the union maintains is in force until a new contract is reached and the school administration argues is not fully enforceable. That’s not what union president Darlene Netcoh had hoped for at the conclusion of the last mediation session on Aug. 3. She believed the parties were making headway.
While the parties continue to schedule mediation and arbitration sessions, offering a glimmer of a contract, there is the spectrum of continued unsettlement and discord. Netcoh says no formal vote has been taken on work-to-rule, yet there is nothing stopping teachers from performing what’s required of them by contract and only that. In the first days of school, Pilgrim teachers did not collectively report for school in a demonstration of solidarity as they did last year. But it is early. School principals interviewed for the story would not be surprised if teachers did not show up for elementary school open houses or that they don’t put in extra time beyond what the expired contract requires.
“Things aren’t as rosy as Doctor Phil [superintendent Philip Thornton] would like you to believe,” Netcoh said of the opening of schools.
With the consolidation of secondary schools giving the city two senior and junior high schools, she said the increased enrollment at Pilgrim and Toll Gate high schools led to confusion and, in the case of Pilgrim, “gridlock” as buses and parents trying to pick up their children converged on the school. She said what normally would have been a three-minute ride turned into 30 minutes of frustration.
Toll Gate, which didn’t get as many new students from Vets that closed as a high school as Pilgrim, also faced delays because of additional bus routes, she reported.
Much of the attention of the opening of schools centered on the refurbished auditoriums at Vets Junior High and Pilgrim and other improvements, including new gymnasium floors and entryways at the two schools.
“Shiny gyms are nice,” Netcoh said, “but respect for teachers would be nicer.”
The logistics of school openings and scheduling is being worked on. Reaching a contract doesn’t appear as promising.
Referencing Wednesday’s mediation that started at 6 p.m. and ran to about 10, Thornton reported Thursday, “We didn’t make any progress.” He said “philosophical” differences separate the sides, citing disagreement over how teachers are to be selected at the department’s annual job fair held in June. The difference centers on the role of seniority, which the union favors. The department contends selection can’t be based on seniority to be in compliance with the Rhode Island Department of Education, said Thornton. He said the sides would continue meeting and seek to find a resolution.
Netcoh feels Thornton is not abiding by an agreement he made on Aug. 3, where he reportedly agreed that issues resolved in mediation would not be applicable until a complete agreement is reached. The matter apparently centers on electronic grading that the administration aims to implement this year. The union is not opposed to electronic grading, but has not signed off on it.
Yet, Netcoh said, the department is saying the union is in agreement and pushing ahead.
“We’re not negotiating piecemeal. It all comes together into the final package,” she said.
The administration’s presumption of an agreement on electronic grading casts a “cloud of mistrust over proceedings,” she said. She charged the administration with unilaterally making changes in disregard of the former contract.
As mediation and arbitration continue – Thornton said the department has virtually completed its presentation to arbitrators and now is waiting for the union to present its side – action also continues at Superior Court. Judge Bennett Gallo upheld the State Labor Relations Board ruling that the department had to abide by the terms of the expired contract concerning the procedure in the handling of two grievances. However, the judge did not agree with the union’s premise that the labor relations board ruling also applied to the limitation of layoffs as dictated by the former contract.
Gallo granted a stay on the matter of the layoffs, and the sides, including the Labor Relations Board, are to present their arguments prior to a formal ruling.
Meanwhile, Netcoh said, the union has filed a petition with the court to enforce the Labor Relations Board decision. She reiterated her position that the department is wasting time and money with its court actions.
“Sitting down in an atmosphere of trust will settle a contract,” she said.
6 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Justanidiot
why cant mayer corrente fix this?
Tuesday, September 6, 2016 Report this
richardcorrente
I promise you Justanidiot, I will.
I suspect that it won't be easy but I am relentless.
And when we succeed there will be a victory party and you're invited.
Thanks for your many enjoyable comments.
Richard Corrente
Soon to be your proud Mayor (or mayer if you prefer)
Stay well.
Enjoy Autumn
Rick
Tuesday, September 6, 2016 Report this
Imhere
Teachers don't have a contract because you have a brain dead administration. Phil Thorton wants to waste another $80 million to paint and put lip stick on a pig just look at Vets. There are so many safety concerns and the incompetent Thorton says "this is what we did with $3.25 million, imagine what can be done with $80 million". Well it's obvious Mr. Incompetent you couldn't even handle what you just had. Open holes in the ceilings and broken tile which pose a safety hazards for tripping are not acceptable, so Phil use the little brain you have and RESIGN!! Ivery asked the waste of a human Phil Thorton on multiple occasions to resign, it would be a great idea!! The teachers on the front line who teach OUR future need a contract asap and the brain dead administration needs to be unemployed!!
Tuesday, September 6, 2016 Report this
CrickeeRaven
An informative complement to this article may found at be the following link to a recent Superior Court decision on the issue of electronic grading: http://www.ntlong.com/cber/legalcases/Warwick_v_State_Labor_Board.html
The summary is, the union challenged the school committee's plan to implement electronic grading and require teachers to attend training on the system. An earlier decision by the State Labor Relations Board ruled against the school committee, saying that it had "committed an unfair labor practice" based on several factors.
The Superior Court, however, overruled the labor board in favor of the school committee and ruled that the two sides "proceed with bargaining the effects of the implementation of electronic grade keeping in the WPS."
As stated in the case, this issue goes back to the 2012-13 school year, while the previous contract was still in effect. The ruling was issued on March 9, 2016.
This again belies the idea that the two sides can simply "sit down and talk," since this is just one of the many issues that has been the focus of unfair labor practice complaints, state labor board hearings, and court rulings between the school committee and teachers union. It is also among the issues that the sides are attempting to resolve through mediation, which means that a qualified third party is involved in attempting to bring the sides to compromise after this history of discord.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016 Report this
ThatGuyInRI
Can someone please explain why Warwick teachers oppose online grading?
Many if not most systems in the state use it, parents don't have to harass teachers with the "how's my kid doing" emails, your kid can't lie to you about their grades. What's the down side?
Thursday, September 8, 2016 Report this
FedUp
In speaking with teachers, it is not the fact that there is electronic grading, it is that the system used is bare bones and not user friendly. They are being asked to use an antiquated system in which WPS refuses to make an investment.
If it is so important for online grading, then why not invest in a system that works well for both parents and teachers.
Aspen is not even available to parents until October. For all the importance of online grading, why is it not ready?
Thursday, September 8, 2016 Report this