Teacher contract talks start under cloak of silence

John Howell
Posted 8/7/14

With less than a month to the first day of school, and the last day of a teacher contract, the Warwick Teachers Union and the School Committee have entered into contract negotiations.

So far, …

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Teacher contract talks start under cloak of silence

Posted

With less than a month to the first day of school, and the last day of a teacher contract, the Warwick Teachers Union and the School Committee have entered into contract negotiations.

So far, that’s the only news either of the parties will confirm. Earlier this week, Rosemary Healey, director of human resources and legal counsel to the committee, said that both sides have agreed to a news blackout for the talks. This includes information about the frequency of the talks; any progress on reaching an agreement; and, in fact, who is actually at the table.

“The School Committee, the administration as well as the Teachers’ Union have all collectively agreed to answer ‘no comment’ to any inquiries on the contract negotiations,” said Healey.

George Landrie, union president, did not return calls.

Just last week, Landrie said the union had not been contacted, although it sent a letter to the committee in December saying the current contract would expire on Aug. 31. While Landrie said time is running out for a new contract to be in place, he believed an agreement is possible by the start of school.

If what Landrie said last week is still applicable, the union is expected to fight any effort to increase classroom size. In addition, Landrie said he would seek a three-year agreement and for parity with other districts on top-step pay. Teacher starting pay at $40,000, he said, is comparable to other districts.

While the current contract allows for the committee to notify 40 teachers of layoffs, but layoff no more than 20 in a year, Landrie thought the district’s ability to respond to declining enrollment could be achieved through retirements. Landrie is also expected to fiercely protect programs and, in light of a larger surplus than expected, suggested the committee restore programs that it cut, such as the Accelerated Learning Activities Program (ALAP).

Warwick teachers and the committee have a rocky history of contract negotiations, although in recent years there has not been the sort of strife that followed the 1992 teacher strike when Landrie, among others, was jailed because teacher strikes are illegal. Teachers continued to work under the terms of the former contract, but the arrangement was less than agreeable. Many teachers chose to “work to rule,” refusing to attend open houses, write college recommendations and perform other tasks not specified in the pact. Memories of the divisive nature of that situation have served as motivation to get a contract in place before the current agreement expires.

Money, or the lack of it, could be problematic.

The committee made no budget provision for pay increases. This is not extraordinary, as budgeting for an increase in salaries would send a clear message to the union of where they expect to end up.

Schools got a $400,000 boost in its budget from the City Council that refused to go along with Mayor Scott Avedisian’s $158.4 million school budget for level-funded schools. And while the department projected a surplus for the last fiscal year, it turned out to be more. The committee has not “reseeded” $1.38 million, as the school administration advised, meaning, at this point, it is unencumbered.

On the city side, municipal employees, fire and police are entering the third year of three-year no-raise contracts. The freeze in wages has dramatically reduced the unfunded pension liability of fire and police, as retiree increases are linked to the pay increases of active members of the force.

In an expression of gratitude, and to avert the wage re-opener clause of the third year of the agreement, Avedisian budgeted $800,000 to give all city employees a $1,000 bonus. That bonus has not been paid. The administration and the unions are silent on the matter, but it is believed the firefighters have not signed off on re-opening wages.

Comments

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  • allent

    "cloak of silence"- that about sums it up.

    Soon the Supreme Court will neuter these terroristic public unions once and for all.

    Thursday, August 7, 2014 Report this

  • TheDeal

    Yeah!!! Evil doers!!! Down with the terrorists!! Rah rah rah!!

    Thursday, August 7, 2014 Report this

  • InTheW

    "Expression of gratitude" = um, guys, i'm gonna need your votes this year more than ever. Hope this helps.

    Thursday, August 7, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Get out of mummy's basement hepdog there is more to the world.....

    Thursday, August 7, 2014 Report this

  • JohnStark

    School Committee: Elected by taxpayers

    Teachers: Paid by taxpayers

    Negotiations between the above: Prohibited from taxpayers

    Swell

    Thursday, August 7, 2014 Report this

  • wwkvoter

    John Howell why would you leave out top step pay which you reported is a parity goal of this effort? What is top step pay? You cited bottom (starting) pay, but left out top step pay which all teachers get after about ten years...

    Anyone else know what top step pay is here and other cities with which these folks seek parity?

    Monday, August 11, 2014 Report this

  • sadforspeced

    If D'Agostino and Healy are representing the school administration how can you even think that anything they do will be straightforward, honest, or have any degree of integrity? This will all end in shambles if they are allowed to go forward with no help from some form of arbitration. The teachers union are up against, probably, the weakest duo they could possibly face. If you have seen it up close you would understand. They are less than competent to manage anything.

    Monday, August 11, 2014 Report this

  • Norm88

    You guys are worried about what teachers get paid well I have an idea lets pay them $3/student per hour just like a baby sitter let’s do the math…. 30/kids per room X $3 =90/HR X 6/HR per day = $540/per day X $89,100/per year.

    Tuesday, August 12, 2014 Report this

  • Norm88

    You guys are worried about what teachers get paid well I have an idea lets pay them $3/student per hour just like a baby sitter, let’s do the math…. 30/kids per room X $3 =90/HR X 6/HR per day = $540/per day X 165/days $89,100/per year.

    Tuesday, August 12, 2014 Report this

  • JohnStark

    Norm, As babysitters, I'm assuming teachers would be treated as independent contractors. Hence, the $1600/mo in health insurance premiums would be paid exclusively by the teacher. They would also pay not only 6.2% to Social Security as an employee, but also 6.2% (total of 12.4%) as an employer. Finally, and here's the kicker, no pension, no union, no sick days or 'personal' days, and you can be fired at will. Just a guess, but I'll bet most teachers would be thrilled to stay right where they are.

    Wednesday, August 13, 2014 Report this