Our campaign is working: Salem teachers contract progress reported

Salem Teachers Union and School Committee representatives reported progress on paid family leave and learning preparation time this week.

Jun 26, 2024 2:09 PM EDT | Updated Jun 26, 2024 2:45 PM EDT

SALEM, MA — Even though the Salem Teachers Union bargaining unit rejected a proposed one-year contract for 2024-25 while pursuing a longer-term agreement, both STU and the School Committee cited a point agreed on several key issues this week and expressed optimism about working towards a new three-year deal this summer.

“We are committed to reaching a contract agreement that respects the hard work and professionalism of our educators and all that they do and is fiscally responsible for the city,” Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo said in a School Committee statement after Monday’s session. “This process takes time. We have been at it for a while. But we will continue.”

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(Also on Patch: Salem Teachers’ Union rejects 1-year contract offer)

The Salem Teachers Union rejected a one-year contract offer it said would have given most members a 4.25 percent pay raise for next year — with some paraprofessionals getting as much as 7 percent — saying the long-term agreement short will not solve “problems. facing our district and our members”.

“They heard us loud and clear,” said STU bargaining team member Barbara McLernon, “that Salem educators need more time to prepare for classes, that we deserve paid parental leave, and that we have need a big boost in compensation to be competitive with our neighboring districts that have a living wage, especially for our (paraprofessionals).”

McLernon acknowledged that the parties have closed the gap on parental leave and classroom preparation.

“This means our campaign is working,” she said.

School Committee member Beth Ann Cornell said the “generous” training and paid parental leave proposals included in the rejected one-year contract are intended to be part of an eventual three-year contract.

The STU contract expires on August 31.

“Unfortunately, although this one-year proposal was defeated, the good news is that we have six more sessions scheduled throughout the summer,” said School Committee member Manny Cruz.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)