Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The East Providence Taxpayers Association will hold a press conference this morning to address the standoff over the teachers' contract.

The conference will be at 10 a.m. in front of the East Providence High School.

The School Committee has voted to scale back teachers' base salaries nearly 5 percent to their levels of more than two years ago, and to reduce longevity and advanced-degree bonuses. The teachers are also to pay 20 percent toward health-insurance premiums. They currently pay nothing. Also, the district wants to eliminate a buyback clause that had paid teachers up to $5,100 for not taking the city's health insurance.

The teachers' union, the East Providence Education Association, is suing to stop the changes.

The East Providence Taxpayers Association had planned to address the School Committee at its regular meeting Monday, but the School Committee adjourned the meeting early as members were unable to control the audience, which included many teachers protesting the cuts.

 Tags  East Providence teachers

Comments

Dave, Middletown, RI said:

Finally! Some reality is starting to creep into this insane system we have in Rhode Island. When will these greedy, inconsiderate unions realize the taxpayers of RI are simply BROKE. If we keep going as we have been, then the only RI residents left here will be union employees and their cronies.

Link | January 16, 2009 10:46 AM
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Pat Crowley said:

Two. Two people made it to the EP Taxpayers group event and only one of them was from East Providence. More evidence that the people are with the Teachers, not the school committee.

Link | January 16, 2009 11:08 AM
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