Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Gina Macris
Journal staff writer

TIVERTON -- The teachers union, whose 200 members have been working more than a year without a contract, says its negotiators have given the School Committee what it wants, but the committee keeps changing its position.

School Committee vice chairman Michael Burk says the union's math doesn't add up, although the two sides were "very close" when the committee made its latest proposal on Tuesday.

Union president Amy Mullen said negotiators reached a tentative agreement at the bargaining table Oct. 15, but Schools Supt. William F. Rearick reneged on his promise to ask the full committee to vote on the pact. The union cast a "no confidence" vote on Rearick last week.

School Committee chairwoman Denise deMedeiros, meanwhile, said "it is no coincidence that this is coming six days before the election."

deMedeiros and another incumbent, Sally Black, are seeking re-election. Teachers who live in town have signs on their lawns promoting other candidates, deMedeiros said.

Mullen said, "We just want a fair contract."

Meanwhile, the committee on Tuesday approved an administrators' contract with a year's retroactivity. It provides for 2 percent raises in each of the first two years and links salaries to whatever teachers might be paid in the third year, 2009-10. Beginning this year, administrators will pay 15 percent of the cost of health insurance. They have yet to ratify the agreement.

 Tags  election School Committee teachers union Tiverton

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