'Tough' Negotiations Continue Between Swampscott, Teachers

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Negotiations between Swampscott Public Schools and the union representing the district are "the toughest" in two decades. In the past week, both sides have sent out fliers critical of the other, and the two sides cannot even agree on how much an across-the-board, three percent cost-of-living increase the Swampscott Education Association is asking for would cost taxpayers.

"We have had tough bargaining years, but I have to say this has been the toughest I have seen it," Rebecca Bucklin, an elementary school teacher who has been with the district for more than 20 years, told the Daily Item. Swampscott Public schools said the 3 percent raise would cost the district $3.1 million over the three-year contract in the flier it released last week; in its response to that flier, the union said the cost was closer to $2 million.

Since negotiations began in April, the union has rejected every proposal from the school system because it did not include the 3 percent raise. The school district says more than half of its teachers already earn between $75,000 and $100,000 per year, and another third earn between $50,000 and $75,000. One-in-five Swampscott teachers earn more than $100,000 er year.

The Swampscott Education Association is urging members to attend the next school committee meeting on Wednesday night to protest the stalled contract negotiations.