WELLESLEY, MASS. (WHDH) - The Wellesley Educators Association has announced a no confidence vote in the town’s superintendent and school committee as teachers continue to work under an expired contract.
The teachers say they’ve demanded more funding and they’re working under a contract that expired in July.
They’re asking for better staffing, more pay, and a parental leave agreement.
In a statement, Wellesley School Committee member Catherine Mirick, who is a member of the bargaining team, said, “The School Committee has been bargaining in good faith for more than a year with the Wellesley Educators Association. We have agreed to 34 of the proposals that the WEA brought forward and, in the month of February, we offered more concessions. Despite all of this movement, including an unprecedented financial package, the Committee has seen no similar movement from the WEA. Negotiations require both parties to find common ground and compromise and, thus far, the WEA has been unwilling to do this…
On Friday, we began mediation which is the next step in the bargaining process when negotiations reach impasse. Our hope is that by working closely with the state-assigned mediator, who will act as a third-party neutral, we can reach resolution in a timely manner. None of us want to see these negotiations extended any further.
The School Committee remains committed to reaching an agreement that is fair and equitable to Wellesley educators and that fulfills our responsibility of providing the best education to Wellesley students, while also working within the budget parameters set by the Town.”
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