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August 31, 2007

Judge orders Burrillville to resume teacher talks

PROVIDENCE -- A Superior Court judge today told both sides in the Burrillville teachers' contract dispute to return to collective bargaining talks over the long holiday weekend.

Judge Netti C. Vogel said she would direct teachers back to work, if she deems it necessary, at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Her hope is that both sides would reach a resolution over the weekend so that no such last-minute decision would be necessary.

Vogel made the judgment after the union's lawyer suggested the parties were closer to a contract agreement than either side had previously indicated.

School Department lawyer Benjamin M. Scungio said that if Vogel orders teachers to resume work, school would start on Tuesday after a one-hour delay.

The school wants to compel teachers -- who voted to strike -- to come to work. School in the district had been due to start this past Wednesday. But instead, classes were cancelled for that day, yesterday and today. The teachers' contract expires today.

Between 80 and 100 teachers turned out to see the proceedings today at Superior Court in Providence, which was based on a request and complaint by the School Department. Extra: Read a copy of the school department's complaint.

Teacher contract talks are also on-going in East Greenwich, Exeter-West Greenwich, Providence and Tiverton.

-- projo.com staff writers Michael P. McKinney and Brandi Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds

Exeter-West Greenwich has returned to school, while mediation continues in that district. Mediated sessions are also expected to continue through the holiday weekend for East Greenwich, where school is due to start Tuesday.

The Tiverton teachers’ union filed an unfair labor practice charge against the School Committee yesterday, maintaining that the committee has bargained in bad faith by failing to send appoint a negotiator authorized to reach a tentative agreement.

The teachers’ contract expired yesterday, and the union membership will meet after school today to consider its next steps. The first day of classes in Tiverton was Wednesday.

Providence teachers are also negotiating a new contract, but union leaders there have said they expect schools to open next Wednesday, as scheduled.

Jamestown has a tentative agreement in place that will be considered by its teachers union and School Committee on Thursday, Sept. 6.

New Shoreham ratified a new three-year contract last week. North Kingstown's contract was also due to expire today, but teachers and the School Committee there ratified a new agreement earlier this summer.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:32 PM | Permalink

August 31, 2007

Judge orders Burrillville to resume teacher talks

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