By Stacie N. Galang
PEABODY — The teachers union and School Committee negotiators shook hands on a tentative agreement early yesterday morning after more than seven hours of contract talks.
The contract language is expected to be finalized within the next two weeks, both sides said in a statement.
Neither union nor city officials would speak about the details because they said the agreement must first be ratified by their respective members.
"I think both sides are pleased that we have been able to reach this point and have an agreement in principle," said federation President Bruce Nelson, who didn't get home until nearly 3 a.m. "It has been a long process."
Since teachers returned to work in August, they had increasingly aired their frustration over the lack of a contract. Some refused to write college recommendation letters and chaperone after-school events. Union members also recently mailed letters to parents asking for them to urge city officials to act.
This week, union members held protest signs at four intersections throughout the city.
Hours after the teachers reached their tentative contract, the city and the union representing custodians, public service and clerical workers similarly hammered out a tentative pact, according to City Solicitor Daniel Cocuzzo.
"The finalities of the agreement will come to fruition in the next couple of weeks," he said of the contract with local union members with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
Cocuzzo had few specifics about either the AFSCME contract or its union yesterday.
AFSCME President Russell Gallant Jr. said the union represents 300 members in four bargaining units. Their contract with the city expired as of June 2007.
Gallant, who is not on the union's negotiating team, said he did not know the status of the contract.
Last week, the police union and the city agreed to a four-year contract.
Police officers will receive a "reasonable" cost-of-living increase, enhanced training pay for weapons qualifications in exchange for paying more of their health insurance premiums and greater co-pays, according to Cocuzzo. They also agreed to a comprehensive drug testing policy.
Yet with all the negotiations nearing an end, it's unclear what the agreements will cost Peabody. City and union officials refuse to be any more specific.
The Salem News filed a request for a copy of the police contract under the state Public Records Law on Oct. 3, but has not received the document. The city has five more business days to comply with the request.
City Solicitor John Christopher said yesterday Peabody did not have to release the contract yet.
"Until the City Council votes, my view is it's still a negotiable contract," he said.
Union members, however, voted to ratify the contract last week.
He did not know as of yesterday when the council would be taking up the vote.
Back to school
The teachers and the School Committee first sat down to discuss their contract in January 2007 and called in a mediator in May as contracts stalled.
Yesterday's tentative agreement came 15 months after the teachers' contract lapsed.
"We're very pleased," said School Committee member David McGeney. "We worked very late into the evening and hammered out a tentative agreement in principle."
Nelson said the contract needed approval of the 520 teachers.
"We still have to see what the members' feelings are toward it," he said.
The union president said the unit representing teachers aides had not completed its negotiations.
McGeney said he was comfortable with the contract.
"It was a good spirit of cooperation and understanding, and both parties kind of heard each other's positions," he said. "At the end of the day, we came away with something that both parties feel is good."
McGeney said he is anxious to release the contract details, but couldn't until it had been approved.
Teachers struck up their last contract in September 2004, preserving their health benefits while receiving a 9 percent raise over four years.
Firefighters union President Jim Lendall said his team had just begun contract talks with the city. The firefighters union, which represents 104 members, has three meetings scheduled in coming weeks. The next meeting is slated for Oct. 17.
