Swampscott Teachers Have Contract After 15 Months Of Negotiations

SWAMPSCOTT, MA —The school committee approved a new, three-year contract for Swampscott teachers Wednesday, ending 15 months of negotiations with the Swampscott Education Foundation.

"We are relieved to have our contract settled after working towards this goal for the past 15 months," the union said in a statement. "We would like to thank the school committee for ratifying this contract during a pandemic, unilaterally displaying their support for teachers and the work we have put in as we entered the year without an updated contract and through remote learning and school closure."

Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald was the lone school committee member to vote against the contract, which gives teachers an annual, 1.75 percent cost-of-living raise. Fitzgerald said the town could not afford the raises.

"Swampscott has some financial challenges, and on top of this is the pandemic and its economic impact," Fitzgerald said. "I understand the importance of morale, but we’re in a crisis. I would urge the School Committee to...think about the economic consequences."

The two sides had reached a tentative deal earlier this month. The school committee was moments away from finalizing the contract on May 13 but opted to delay the vote until Wednesday.

Swampscott teachers have been working without a contract for nearly a year, and the negotiations have been contentious at times. In November, the school department broke off talks when the union arrived at a negotiation session with 40 more members than expected. The union accused the school system of overreacting when it threatened to file for mediation.

In November, SEA president Nancy Hanlon was suspended from her teaching position for unspecified reasons. The union claimed the suspension was retaliation for her role in the contract talks. Superintendent Pamela Angelakis denied the allegation.

Talks resumed in January with what both sides said were "productive" bargaining sessions.