Update #12

We reached a tentative agreement!!!

Contract highlights!

1. We got some of the highest wage increase we have ever seen for both the teachers and PSRP units!
2. We got 6 weeks of parental leave paid by the employer that does not need to be shared by the parents even if they both work for the city!
3. We got paid chaperoning for overnight trips, annualized wages for PSP members, additional personal and sick days for our PSP members, and a bilingual stipend for our family engagement facilitators!
4. We got more prep time for elementary teachers, therapy assistants, and service providers!
5. We got CTE credentials, bigger longevity bonuses for PRSP members, and many more wins for our members!

Silent Representative Observation

"We are ready to jump in and do the hard work! We are ready to get paid for the hard work! This contract is for the students of Salem and for the Educators!" - Ann Berman STU President

Download this update (PDF, 8/29/2024)

Update #11

Quick Overview: School Committee gave a budget overview, STU presented their revised package proposal, and the session was very productive!

1. The School Committee brought in the Finance Director for the city of Salem. They presented the cities budget overview for the year explaining where money comes from and how much money they have.
2. The union presented their updated package proposal. Both parties decided to caucus to review and discuss information.
3. Thank vou to all of our silent representatives who showed up to today's session and got tc participate in our caucus!
4. The school committee agreed to a lot of our proposals and we got tentative agreements on special education classroom sizes, CT class sizes, agree to paying tuition fees, coaches stipends, start of the school day and other topics! It was a very productive night!
5. Please join us at our next session on Thursday, August 29th@4:30pm

Silent Representative Observation

"They (School committee) are acting like this (paying us a fair wage) is a unique situation to us and they are fear mongering"

Download this update (PDF, 8/20/2024)

Update #10

Quick Overview: STU made a package proposal, School Committee Responded to other STU proposals, and Silent Representatives participated in caucus.

1. Dozens of silent representatives joined the bargaining team continuing to show our strength and solidarity throughout the summer. They participated in a caucus taking temperature checks on School Committee proposals.
2. STU made a comprehensive package that the School Committee could accept and we would have a contract now! After a 3 hour caucus hey decided to agree to some of our responses but nothing related to financials.
3. Please join us at our next session on Tuesday, August 20th!

Silent Representative Observation

“If they want us to come to work they should improve our work environment and pay not provide us with attendance awards!”

Download this update (PDF, 8/12/2024)

Update #9

Quick Overview: School Committee presented their 3 year wage proposal, STU and the School committee gave responses to other proposals, and union members rallied together before the school committee meeting!

1. Dozens of silent representatives joined the bargaining team, at our rally, and during the school committee meeting, continuing to show our strength and solidarity throughout the summer.
2. The School Committee made a wage proposal which would see many teachers receive either a negligible wage increase or work additional hours.
3. The School Committee made a wage proposal for support staff which would fail to provide a living wage to most PSRP unit members.
4. The School Committee gave the union responses to many other proposals, which will be reviewed by the bargaining team in the coming days.
5. Please join us at our next session on August 12th!

Silent Representative Observation

“The mayor stated that this was a respectable wage increase however, I would be losing money and not be able to afford my rent with this proposal.”

Download this update (PDF, 7/24/2024)

Update #8

Quick Overview: Union presented proposals related to the overwhelming workloads of Special Educators and the crisis in Special Education staffing.

1. Dozens of silent representatives joined the bargaining team, continuing to show our strength and solidarity throughout the summer.
2. Our union shared proposals related to Special Education and the impacted staff. Members spoke directly to the school committee about a crisis in special education staffing and a lack of consistent paraprofessional support.
3. The STU proposed class size, workload, and staffing provisions related to special education classrooms and service providers such as Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists and Phvsical Therapists.
4. Please join us at our next session Monday July, 29th and stay for our rally and the School Committee meeting.

Silent Representative Observation

"I love my students and my job and I want to help my students but what is put on my plate is not possible to do."

Download this update (PDF, 7/24/2024)

Update #7

Quick Overview: The School Committee refused to make commitments on the maximum students in CTE shops, The STU made counter proposals on parental leave and preparation time, and the School Committee committed to providing a 3-year wage proposal on July 29th.

1. The STU made a revised proposal on parental leave, maintaining our union’s call for 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
2. The School Committee rejected STU’s proposal on CTE shop sizes, refusing to make commitments on this issue despite rationales from CTE teacher re: safety and quality of instruction. STU maintains our proposal.
3. The School Committee did express alignment on the STU proposal regarding CTE educator credentials and movement on the pay scale.
4. STU made a counter proposal on the issue of prep time for elementary and middle school teachers. Our proposal was for the district to meet our proposed prep time minimums by the end of our next contract.
5. We have huge bargaining sessions coming up on both July 24th and July 29th, with parental leave, prep time, and wages set to be discussed. Join us as a silent rep!
    

Silent Representative Observation

“If the School Committee is really committed to making progress quickly, then they need to do more in between the session to make our time together productive."

Download this update (PDF, 7/9/2024)

Update #6

Quick Overview: STU rejected the School Committee’s proposal for a 1-year agreement, a TA was reached on job descriptions, and 85 members packed the SC chambers to show our solidarity, even throughout the summer.

1. The School Committee offered the STU a 1-year agreement which contained 4 weeks of paid parental leave, additional prep time for elementary school teachers, and a 4.25% wage increase for most members.
2. The STU rejected the concept of a 1-year agreement, stating that our union was ready and willing to make progress on long-term solutions to the problems that are facing our district and our members.
3. The STU reiterated our demand that the School Committee offer the long-term wage increases that our members need
4. We reached a tentative agreement that the School Committee would maintain and provide updated job descriptions for all members.
5. Come to our next bargaining session on July 9th!
    

Silent Representative Observation

"Our members need more. On every issue, our members need more."

Download this update (PDF, 6/24/2024)

Update #5

Quick Overview: School Committee and Union made some tentative agreements, Dr. Zrike gave a prep time presentation, and June 24th they will give us a wage and leave proposal!

1. The Union and School Committee reached tentatives agreements for our PSP Unit that include 3 more sick days, 2 more religious holidays and 1 more personal day - finally providing leave equity between the two bargaining units.
2. Dr. Zrike gave a presentation giving the union information he gathered around prep time.
3. He agrees that Elementary Education and the ECC deserve more prep time. He did not express that the middle school or high school need more prep time.
4. The school committee committed to providing responses on priority issues including wages at out next bargaining session on June 24th.
5. Show your support and come to our next bargaining meeting on June 24th!

Silent Representative Observation

"This was a very productive meeting and I hope the School Committee continues this productivity with their response to our wage and leave proposals."

Download this update (PDF, 5/29/2024)

Update #4

Quick Overview: 200+ STU members joined the bargaining team,  we received their final proposals, and we presented our wage proposal. 

1. Unfortunately, we were not able to meet in a space large enough to accommodate our 200-member bargaining team, but we made sure that management saw and heard us all!
2. School Committee gave us 5 proposals regarding  the following topics: stipends, high school teaching provisions, PSRP contract (layoffs, recall, displacement pool, transfers/reassignments, vacancies, and postings),  high school work day and work year. 
3. STU presented our wage  proposals, calling for dramatic wage increases for all workers. We then shared  testimonials which were very heartfelt and we are so grateful for those who shared their very important experiences!
4. Come to our next bargaining meeting on May 29th and June 17th! 

Silent Representative Observation

“They (school committee) agrees we should be paid more money! Then do it! What are they waiting for?”

Download this update (PDF, 5/13/2024)

 

 

Update #3

Quick Overview: School Committee Presented 5 more Proposals, School Committee responded to some of our proposals, STU Presented on the teacher workload.

1. The School Committee Presented 5 proposals. The topics included: substitutes, school start and end times, middle school teacher start and end time, parent teacher conferences, and seniority.
2. They responded to proposals: 12 and 45 around CTE programs, 19 substitute pay, 21 hiring substitutes,and proposal 22 bilingual service providers.
3. We made Tentatives agreements on: Union proposal 35 consulting teachers regarding curriculum and 42 maintaining a stock of basic school supplies.
4. STU presented our teacher workload proposals, presentation, and testimonials. The testimonials were very heartfelt and we are so grateful for those who shared their very important experiences!
5. Come to our next bargaining meeting on May 13th! We are going to talk about wages!

Silent Representative Observation

“We don’t want to be as good as other school district around us. We should want to be the best school district.”

Download this update (PDF, 4/24/2024)

Update #2

Quick Overview: School Committee Presented 8 Proposals, We Made Tentative Agreements, STU Presented Parental Leave Proposal.

1. The School Committee Presented 8 proposals. The topics included: Sick Leave, Personal Days, Paid Family Illness, Start of School Year and Holidays, Outdated Licensure Language, Grade Reporting, Educator Evaluation, and Long Term Substitute.
2. We agreed on our STU Proposals 50, 49, 28, and 31.
3. STU presented our parental leave proposal, presentation, and testimonials. The
   testimonials were very heartfelt and we are so grateful for those who shared their very
   important experiences!
4. Our walk in for Paid Parental leave is on Monday April 8th. Demonstrate your support by
   showing up!
5. All STU members are encouraged to join our next session (4/23/24) as a Silent Rep!

Silent Representative Observation

“Unsure of how this will playout. They understand so im confused as to how it (parental leave) can be denied.”

Download this update (PDF, 4/5/2024)

Update #1

Quick Overview: Ground Rules Resolved, STU Presented our Proposals, Silent Reps Were Awesome.

1. The STU Presented management with all 50 Union Proposals, and our petition signatures. Our presentation showed how our proposals directly relate to the district’s strategic plan.
2. The STU proposed Open Bargaining, which would have allowed the public to watch negotiations. Management declined in favor of closed-door bargaining. The rest of ground rules were resolved.
3. We scheduled three future sessions. Our next session will be on April 5th.
4. Silent Reps from every school attended the session. Reach out to your building’s CAT member to join next time!

Silent Representative Observation
“The [school] committee seemed uncomfortable about what they are paying us and about teacher retention. Maybe they were shocked.”

Download this update (PDF, 3/14/2024)