EGEA Rejects School Committee Contract Offer

East Greenwich - The East Greenwich Education Association (EGEA) voted on February 8 to reject the East Greenwich School Committee’s contract offer. That offer would have resulted in significant pay cuts for newly hired teachers, a high-deductible health plan for employees teaching less than seven years, and language regarding class sizes harmful to students. In all, the contract offer would have crippled the district’s ability to attract and retain the best teachers.

Prior to the vote, teachers were informed that refusal to accept the offer would result in the school committee moving to arbitration, rather than resuming negotiations. In spite of this threat, the members rejected the offer. What follows explains why:

• Recognize High-Performing Schools - East Greenwich is a high-performing and nationally recognized district. Teacher salary and benefits do not reflect that distinction and have eroded drastically over the past decade. East Greenwich teachers lack social security, post-retirement health care, longevity, and disability.
• Protect Class Size - The offer eroded class size protections. East Greenwich and Central Falls share the dubious distinction of having the largest class sizes in the state. East Greenwich students need and certainly deserve better.

• Value Teachers’ Time - The offer did not recognize the countless hours teachers put into making East Greenwich schools a welcoming and thriving environment for students. East Greenwich teachers refuse to continue gifting to a district that fails to acknowledge its contributions.
• Respect Educators - The offer and the school committee’s threats to meet their demands were demoralizing. East Greenwich teachers refuse to be demoralized. East Greenwich and its students deserve teachers who are protected, valued, and happy.

The choice between the offer and arbitration was, in fact, no choice at all. When the options are a bribe and a threat, East Greenwich teachers chose to stand up for their values and their students. Teachers voted no on the school committee’s offer. The EGEA encourages the school committee to return to the bargaining table.

Contact: Stephanie Mandeville
NEA Rhode Island
Office: 401.463.9630
Mobile: 401.318.0410
smandeville@neari.org