Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE -- The East Providence Education Association, which represents the city's more than 500 teachers, is heading back to court this afternoon.

The hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. before Judge Mark A. Pfeiffer.

The teachers' union is asking the judge to bar the School Committee from unilaterally cutting salaries and imposing payroll deductions to recoup 20 percent of the cost of health-insurance premiums. East Providence teachers currently do not contribute to the cost of health insurance.

The School Committee has voted to scale back the teachers' base salaries nearly 5 percent to their levels more than two years ago and reduce longevity and advanced-degree bonuses. The teachers are also to pay 20 percent toward health-insurance premiums. Also, the district will eliminate a buyback clause that had paid teachers up to $5,100 for not taking the city's health insurance.

Pfeiffer said he would rule on the issue before the changes hit teachers' pocketbooks on the next payday, Jan. 16.

 Tags  East Providence school commitee teachers

Comments

right said:

It seems clear that there is a serious problem paying for the budget, not just in N. Providence either. The Town Council has proposed one suggestion to address the deficit.

Has the union made any suggestion as to how they would help solve the problem? I hope that they are not simply saying NO!

Link | January 8, 2009 9:41 AM
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