by Haley Verre
Staff Writer
This is a question-and-answer interview with School Committee Chairwoman Angela Harkness and Union President Ruth Freeman regarding the contract negotiations between the school committee and the Westford teachers’ union.
Angela Harkness – member of school committee
Q: What do the teachers mean when they say they are requesting increases not associated with money?
A: This question might best be answered by the teachers themselves but I can tell you my thoughts. There are certain issues having to do with “conditions of employment” or how things are run on a day to day basis that the teachers have asked us to consider. We were presented with approximately 24 such issues at the outset of negotiations. Eleven were successfully resolved. We were still working on the remainder of those issues when mediation was requested.
Q: Do you feel that what the teachers are asking for is fair?
A: As a member of the School Committee I believe that I have to respond to the teachers’ demands in terms of what is practical and doable based on the needs of our school system and the resources available. We have to be sure that the resolution of these issues is fair, not only to the teachers, but also to the students and the taxpayers.
Q: Is the lack of a contract a result of the poor economy we’re struggling with? Or is there another reason?
A: There is no doubt in my mind that the state of the economy is entirely to blame for the present situation. This is a community that values and supports an excellent educational system and the teachers that make it work. Unfortunately, tough fiscal times mean that we must make difficult choices in order to preserve programs and positions.
Q: Does the School Committee have a plan to resolve this issue?
A: The School Committee intends to continue working as hard as we can to craft a contract that is acceptable to all parties and in the best interests of the students. I am confident that, by continuing to work hard to do so, we will be able to achieve this result.
Ruth Freeman – head of teacher union
Q: What do the teachers mean by asking for non-monetary increases?
What sorts of things (specifically) are they asking for?
A: Non-monetary requests are associated with work life or work expectations and conditions. For example, teachers must participate in professional development. Over the years, teachers have been dissatisfied with the professional development experiences being offered by the district, both in their content and their disruption to time on learning for students. We wanted to adjust the calendar to limit its interruptions and instead have a specific time each week to be used for meetings and/or professional development. We wanted that time to be designated to the growth of individual teachers,
not necessarily district initiatives.
At the primary level teachers were asking for a reorganization of how bus duties were handled. At the high school and middle school levels teachers were also asking for a reorganization and possible reduction of non-teaching duties.
Q: Why do you feel what the teachers are asking for is fair?
A: The main sticking point has been over whether the district should pay new teachers the “step” increases that were previously negotiated and that the overwhelming majority of districts recognize they are obligated to pay while a new contract is being negotiated. These are the increases built into the salary schedule to gradually raise the salaries of new teachers to the professional level as they gain experience.
We believe paying these increases is fair because it is required by law, because teachers were told they would get these increases when they were hired, because Westford has always paid these increases in the past (thus it is an established past practice) and because districts have historically recognized their obligation to honor past contracts until a new one is negotiated. Westford is one of just a small handful of districts seeking to get out of its obligation to pay step increases. Lunenburg is another. It is important to note that the state recently approved charges against Lunenburg for failing to honor step increases in that districts, and we are optimistic the state will reach the same conclusion for Westford.
It is also fair compared to what other districts are paying. In past years, that town has always done an analysis comparing our compensation to that of other similar, nearby districts before bargaining begins. Westford did not do such an analysis this year, likely because the town knows their offer was going to be low relative to offers in comparable districts. Keeping salaries competitive is not only fair to teachers, but is good policy for making sure Westford continues to attract and retain the very best.
Finally, we believe that what we are asking for is fair to the taxpayers. The raises we are asking for are well below the increase in the cost of living.
Q: Do you feel close to obtaining a fair contract?
A: Unfortunately, I do not feel close to reaching an agreement, though I continue to be hopeful. We are in mediation, which is new to us. We hope this will help us reach an understanding, but it is an uncharted path. In addition, if the state determines that Westford was wrong to not pay new teachers their step increases, that may break the logjam.
However, we believe these questions you are posing to both the union and the administration are an appropriate way to approach the issue. You are doing a public service by producing this column, which we appreciate.
Q: Some have argued that the teachers should not be “working-to-rule” (in published works) because it is unfair to students. What are your thoughts about this?
A: Work to Rule is something as an association we do not take lightly. It was with a great deal of discussion and angst we reached this point. Many people misunderstand what work to rule actually means. We are unfolding pieces of work to rule and limiting the specific time for each piece. For example, we are looking initially only at voluntary work. Teachers often volunteer for committees and activities outside their work day without pay. We are not reducing our participation in paid positions or activities we are contractually obligated to attend, such as faculty or curriculum meetings.
Some teachers begin their workday an hour to an hour and half before students arrive. This is not a contract obligation. Many teachers stay one to two hours after dismissal and take bags of work home. This is also not part of our contract. For one week teachers in Westford will adjust their daily schedule to enter the building just prior to student arrival and just after dismissal. This is to bring about an awareness of what our normal work day is like and what is unable to occur when we are not working beyond contracted hours.
We hope students understand that taking these actions is hard on us, too, but is something we feel we have to do to stand up for our rights.
Q: If the economy’s state is poor, then why is it necessary for the teachers to receive these raises they have been asking for?
A: Although improving, the economy is still weak. That is why what we are asking for is very modest. We ,too, are affected by the economy. Teachers are not exempt from increasing fuel costs. rising food prices, rising tuition costs for our own children, or high college loan debt for teachers who recently graduated from college. Our spouses are not exempt from unemployment issues. We have expressed our willingness to make some concessions, but we also do not feel it is appropriate to take a step backwards when we have worked so hard to have a pay rate comparable to our peers in neighboring communities.
Q: Why are the School Committee and the teachers having difficulty
reaching an agreement?
A: We feel there has been less give and take during the current negotiations than in the past. This is unfortunate. We will continue to try to present creative alternative solutions to break the stalemate. We hope the school committee will do the same.