News

Teachers protest lack of contract

By Stacie N. Galang
Staff Writer
Published: August 28, 2008

PEABODY — Teachers returned to work yesterday the same way they left off — protesting their second year without a contract.

"The membership is getting very frustrated," teachers union president Bruce Nelson said at a rally yesterday morning outside Peabody High.

Union leaders pledged more action in weeks to come, including protests and plans to send letters to parents.

Yesterday was the first administrative day for educators, and they arrived 45 minutes early to lodge their displeasure at entering another school year without an agreement.

"What do we want? A contract. When do we want it? Now," they chanted, adding, "Two years, too long."

They rallied together before they met with Superintendent C. Milton Burnett for his annual address.

"Negotiations are in process, and I have no comment," he said yesterday afternoon.

David McGeney, the School Committee's lead negotiator, said the two sides are making progress.

The School Committee and the Peabody Federation of Teachers started talks in January 2007 and agreed to bring in a mediator in May as talks stalled.

"It's obviously not as fast as either side would like to see," he said. "We are working hard at it, and I'm confident we'll get there."

He would not say what issues remained unresolved. McGeney said his team wants to offer a fair agreement that balances respect for teachers' work against the cost to taxpayers.

Despite his confidence, both sides have meetings scheduled through October, he said.

In fact, they met last night for the seventh time with an outside mediator, Nelson said.

The union appears to be preparing for battle.

This summer, union leaders reactivated their action committee to better organize their protests and sought the help of Boston representatives. Last week, union leaders requested dozens of city financial documents from Mayor Michael Bonfanti.

Umberto Latessa of the American Federation of Teachers in Massachusetts led yesterday's protest. Using a bullhorn, he told the hundreds gathered of plans to protest at City Hall and later at key locations throughout the city. He said union leaders were preparing to send letters home to parents about their lack of a contract and its effect on their children.

He advised teachers to approach Bonfanti and share their frustration with him.

"We have to make a statement," Latessa said.

Peabody union leaders will look for volunteers for later protests, he said.

Teachers hammered out their last deal in September 2004, preserving their health benefits while receiving a 9 percent raise over four years.

According to the terms of the last contract, the highest-paid teachers earn up to $66,500, and entry-level educators receive $36,000. The city also would continue paying 90 percent of teachers' health benefits.