After more than a year of contract negotiations, the Belmont Educators Association (BEA) has voted to move to a work-to-rule job action.
“Educators voted overwhelmingly to work to rule in response to prolonged delays at the bargaining table,” said BEA president John Sullivan in a release.
In an email, School Committee Chair Meghan Moriarty said the action hinders forward progress.
“The School Committee does not view ‘work to rule’ as helpful to resolving the remaining issues at the bargaining table,” she wrote.
According to Moriarty, the action is permissible under collective bargaining law, but the School Committee is concerned about the impact on students and families.
The vote for the job action was taken on Jan. 15. According to Sullivan, the result was overwhelming.
Under the work-to-rule model, Belmont teachers will not:
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Serve on unpaid groups or committees
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Write recommendations for private school or spring/summer programs
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Write narratives for standards-based elementary-level report cards
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Run unpaid clubs or student groups at the middle or high school level
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Commit to writing college recommendations outside of this year’s senior class
Under work-to-rule, teachers will continue to meet their contractual obligations, including:
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Communicating as needed during the workday
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Essential grading and preparation
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Uphold the educational standards offered by the Belmont schools.
In the release, the BEA says it believes in the bargaining process, but the two sides have reached a stalemate.
In her email to The Voice, Moriarty cited substantial progress made in some areas, while others remain at a standstill.
“However, meaningful differences remain, particularly around compensation proposals that exceed what the district can responsibly support while maintaining current services,” Moriarty writes.
The School Committee filed for mediation with the state in October. At the time, The Voice reported that the state asked both parties to return to the bargaining table to narrow the scope and the number of issues considered for mediation.
According to the union, its goals in the contract talks are to secure compensation promising a competitive wage; caseloads and class sizes that allow educators to provide individualized support to students; and more collaboration and preparation time.
According to Moriarty, the focus remains on reaching fair and sustainable agreements that support educators while keeping students at the center of decision-making.
The union has contended from the outset that Belmont has the resources to end the dispute immediately.
This is a developing story and will be updated with new information.
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