Still No Vote on Teachers’ Contract

A contract agreement reached in October between Cheshire
teachers and the Board of Education remains in limbo because the teachers’ union has yet to sign the document or file it with the Town Clerk.

The Town Council was supposed to vote on the contract at its
meeting Tuesday, but postponed action because the document had not been filed. This is the second month the council had to put off a vote on the contract.

Board of Education President Gerry Brittingham said there
was a misunderstanding with the union about some of the definitions in the contract. He would not elaborate on the misunderstanding but said it was “nothing major.”

“We cleared all that up and we’re all on the same page,”
Brittingham said.

Judy Masella, president of the Education Association of
Cheshire, which represents district teachers, said in an email that she did not sign the contract because the typed version had "some minor changes from our understanding of the mediated agreement."

She said the union met with Superintendent of Schools Greg Florio and the school board to iron out the misunderstandings. "We should have it signed and filed by next week," she said.

Brittingham said he was not concerned about the delay
because the teachers’ current contract does not expire until June. He said it was better to resolve any issues now rather than after the contract is filed.

The new contract gives town teachers raises of 8.93 percent over
four years. Wages will go up 1 percent in the first year, 2.69 percent in each of the second and third years, and 2.55 percent in the fourth year. Teachers also will receive two bereavement days that will not be charged against their sick time.

Teachers, meanwhile, agreed to add 30 minutes to their work
day once a week and will pay a larger cost share for health insurance.  The teachers’ contribution will rise from 5.5 percent to 9 percent by the end of the contract.

Florio said he emailed the union a copy of the revisions on Saturday. The language changes do not affect the terms of the agreement, he said.

The Town Council has 30 days from the time the contract is
filed to vote, but is under no obligation to approve the contract. The council can either take no action, which means the contract takes effect automatically, or can reject it.

“I think this is a very good contract that everyone, including
the Town Council, should look on favorably,” Brittingham said.