'Our Campaign Is Working': Salem Teacher Contract Progress Despite Rejected Deal

SALEM, MA — Even as the Salem Teachers Union bargaining unit rejected a proposed one-year contract for 2024-25 while a longer-term deal is pursued, both the STU and School Committee cited common ground on several key issues this week and expressed optimism about working toward a new, three-year deal this summer.

"We're committed to reaching a contract agreement that respects our educators' hard work and professionalism, and all that they do, and is financially responsible for the city," Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo said in a School Committee statement following Monday's session. "This process takes time. We've been at it for a while. But we're going to keep at it."

(Also on Patch: Salem Teachers Union Rejects 1-Year Contract Offer)

The Salem Teachers Union rejected a one-year contract offer it said would have provided most members with a 4.25 percent wage increase for next year — with some paraprofessionals getting up to 7 percent — saying that the short-term deal would not solve "the problems facing our district and our members."

"They have heard us loud and clear," STU bargaining team member Barbara McLernon said, "that Salem educators need more time to prep for classes, that we deserve paid parental leave and we need a big boost in compensation in order to be competitive with our neighboring districts that have a living wage, particularly for our (paraprofessionals)."

McLernon did acknowledge that the sides had closed the gap on parental leave and class preparation.

"That means our campaign is working," she said.

School Committee member Beth Ann Cornell said the "generous" preparation and paid parental leave proposals included in the rejected one-year deal are intended to be part of an eventual three-year contract.

The STU contract expires on Aug. 31.

"Regrettably, while this one-year proposal was rejected the good news is that we have six more sessions scheduled throughout the summer," School Committee member Manny Cruz said.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)