Worcester School Committee Seeks Mediation For Teacher Contract Talks

WORCESTER, MA — The Worcester School Committee wants the state to appoint a mediator to settle contract talks with the Educational Association of Worcester teachers union.

The two sides have been bargaining for months over a new contract for teachers and other union members. In a news release, the committee said the EAW rejected the most recent proposal, and implied negotiations are at a stalemate.

Members of the Educational Association of Worcester union have been without a contract since August, but negotiations have been going on for more than 16 months.

"The Worcester School Committee has repeatedly proposed sizable wage increases for our dedicated teachers and continuously engages in good-faith bargaining," Worcester Mayor and school committee member Joseph Petty said in a news release. "We are requesting a state-appointed mediator so that our hard-working educators do not wait any longer for the fair and competitive compensation package they truly deserve."

An EAW spokesperson said Friday the union was planning a news conference for Friday evening. The mediator would be appointed by the state Department of Labor Relations.

"Worcester educators have been working under the terms of an expired contract and are seeking improvements in wages and working conditions," the EAW said.

The district said on Tuesday it offered wage and benefit increases equivalent to $40.5 million over four years — including wage increases between 14 and 19.4 percent over that period. Those raises shake out to between 3 and 4 percent each year for four years.

The school committee has also said the EAW has not acted on a contract specifically for para-educators. The offer dates to January, and would mean salary increases worth $14,000 and one-time $1,500 payments.