As Autumn Arrives, School Committee, Union Focus on Contract Negotiations

Negotiations are set to begin with less than a year until the teachers’ union contracts expire.

“We want to settle a contract as quickly as possible,” said Belmont Education Association President John Sullivan. “Last time, it went a year without being settled because there were delays … It would be a whole lot easier if we met as four units at one table.”

According to Sullivan, who has led the union for the past 12 years, each unit traditionally meets separately with the school committee.

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“As I wrote to the president of the BEA on August 20th, the School Committee is not agreeable to bargaining with all units at the same table,” School Committee Chair Meghan Moriarty said in an email statement. “All four units have unique articles and language in their contracts and we wish to address those specifically with each unit.”

In the coming months, new contracts will be negotiated for units A, B, C, and D, which include educators, directors, assistant directors, and assistant principals; administrative assistants and clerical aids; and finally, professional aides, classroom assistants, tutors, campus monitors, and building-based substitutes. Contracts for each of the units are set to expire next summer.

According to Sullivan, the union has its first bargaining date set for Oct. 28.

“The Belmont School Committee shares the BEA’s stated goal of settling contracts with all four units this school year, and we reflected that in our School Committee Goals,” Moriarty said.

According to the Beacon Union Newsletter, union members’ bargaining interests include improved compensation and benefits, such as health insurance improvements, accrued leave time buyback, and competitive increases. Other interests include ensuring caps on class sizes and caseloads, creating more opportunities to plan and collaborate, and establishing a new grading and attendance system.

Members are also interested in improving mental health resources for students and increasing professional aide support, according to the union’s newsletter.

“I think workload is the biggest issue, and having a work-life balance,” Sullivan said.