Newton Teachers Make Public Case For New Contract

NEWTON, MA — The Newton Teachers Association remained on the offensive in their calls for a new contract that includes pay increases, better paid parental leave, increased mental health support for students, guaranteed time to prepare coursework and collaborate with colleagues, and more substitute teachers on Monday.

Five days after holding a "no confidence" vote in Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and the School Committee amid the stalled negotiations more than 100 days following the expiration of the previous contract, speakers — which included students — urged city leadership to advance negotiations behind a podium with signs reading "Fully Fund the Schools" and "Fair Contract Now" during a 20-minute Monday news conference at the Newton Education Center.

"The disrespect for educators comes at a very steep price," Newton Teachers Association President Mike Zilles said. "Namely, a demoralized and burned out teaching staff and a district with a growing reputation of being an undesirable place to work."

Zilles argued "Newton can afford the proposals that we are bringing forward" and said that the district is in danger of losing out on talented young teachers because of hardball negotiations with each new contract and persistent talk of layoffs.

"What new educator would take a job in Newton when they hear that their job will be on the chopping block every budget season?" he asked.

Speakers said that the proposed 2 percent pay increase does not come close to keeping up with recent inflation and does not provide a living wage in the city for paras and other support staff.

In a statement released last Wednesday night, the NTA said the vote taken among its 1,600 members across all 23 school buildings was 99.6 percent in favor of the "no confidence" declaration.

There was some hope expressed that new mediation talks with the School Committee would help the NTA and the city reach a new contract agreement.