What’s Going On With the Teacher Contract Negotiations?
If you’re a Newton student or parent, you’ve probably heard scattered discussions about the recent contract negotiations between the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) and the Newton School Committee (NSC).
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Contracts are typically renewed every three years, which means that every three years, new terms must be agreed upon regarding topics like teacher wages and schedules. The rising tensions budding from these ongoing negotiations have greatly impacted the Newton community, putting students, faculty, and the administration at odds.
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It’s a confusing time for Newton Public Schools (NPS). To brief your understanding of the current situation, we’ve compiled a timeline of events leading up to the present day to provide background and context to the Newton contract negotiations.
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2011
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The NTA agrees to delay wage increases from September to the next March, concedes on health insurance, and accepts a small Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). By postponing pay increases, this allows the City of Newton to save money every year.
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2013
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The operating override and debt exclusion passed by the City of Newton results in a larger school budget. NPS adds 240 staff members from 2013-2016 – a 13% increase.
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2014-15
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The NSC offers a modest COLA in the 2014 starting plan, subject to rising health insurance rates. Despite the NTA’s concessions and the city’s financial strength, contract negotiations necessitate vigorous campaigns.
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October 20, 2022
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The first meeting of the current contract negotiations between the NSC and the NTA takes place. They lay a foundation for future meetings. From 2020 to the present day, the NSC has spent $1.5 million on hiring Liz Valerio, an attorney who recently represented Brookline’s legal team in similar lengthy negotiations. The NSC offers less than a 6% COLA over three years, while nearby districts such as Franklin and Woburn offer a 10-15% COLA. The NSC seeks to eliminate the Time and Learning Agreements, which would enable the NSC to assign extra classes and responsibilities to teachers, change school day scheduling, and make other decisions without consulting teachers. Negotiations go back and forth for months, with little progress made.
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March 15, 2023
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Newton voters decline a Proposition 2 ½ tax override. The ballot question proposed a permanent increase to the levy limit that would ultimately close Newton’s budget gap. This means that there will be inevitable budget cuts and less overall funding that can go into the operations of Newton schools. Upcoming teacher contract negotiations will be more difficult with a smaller budget.
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June 1, 2023
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The NSC rejects all the NTA recommendations, announcing a “new phase” of negotiations. The NSC creates a set of Memoranda of Agreement, combining their suggestions into one package, and gives the NTA an ultimatum between accepting the bundled proposition or making no progress. Prior to the contract’s expiration on August 31, the NSC claims that no one is available for bargaining sessions.
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July 20, 2023
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The NSC emails the state, claiming an impasse and requesting state mediation. The email implies the NTA is organizing a work stoppage. The NTA clarifies they intend to have a “work to rule” in the fall if no agreement is reached.
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August 30, 2023
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The NTA protests with a boycott of the opening day ceremony led by the school committee and Superintendent Anna P. Nolin.
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September 5, 2023
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The NSC files a petition with the Department of Labor Relations to investigate potential strike actions taken by the NTA in their August 30 boycott. The NTA denies allegations that the convocation boycott was a strike.
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October 23, 2023
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Over 1,000 people attend the NTA’s “Fair Contract” rally held at Newton North. At this rally, the NTA pushed the message “You must negotiate in good faith” to the NSC.
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December 17, 2023
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Superintendent Nolin works with Mayor Ruthanne Fuller to secure extra funding and proposes putting it toward competitive salaries, class size reductions, and safety upgrades. Nolin aims to present a new contract offer to the NTA.
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December 18, 2023
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In response to the NTA’s updated proposal, the NSC conducts a mediation session with the NTA. The NSC expresses gratitude for the funding and shared goals by offering a three-year contract with distinct COLAs (ranging from a 2-3% increase) for different units. The NSC continues negotiation by offering these package deals that still limit teacher autonomy.
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January 16, 2024
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The NSC files a petition for a strike investigation with the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board in response to evidence that the NTA plans to hold a strike vote on January 18, 2024. The NSC expresses commitment to negotiation and believes a strike will do more harm than good.
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This article was written in collaboration with co-editor-in-chief Raj Brodie.