Watertown School Committee Ratifies Contracts with Four Unions

Four contracts with Watertown school unions were ratified by the School Committee Monday night, leaving just one contract to be settled.

Three of the contracts were units in the Watertown Educators Association: Unit B - curriculum coordinators, Unit C - assistant principals, the athletic director and dean of students, and Unit D - the instructional aides. Unit A, the teachers, .

The School Committee also approved the contact for the SEIU, which represents the secretaries in the district.

The votes to approve the contract were unanimous. Town Manager Michael Driscoll, who votes on school labor contracts, said he supported them because, like other unions contracts in town, they had no increase for the first two years.

All agreements had no raises in the first two years (2011 and 2012), and a split raised in 2013 - 1.5 percent for the first half and 1 percent for the second half of the year, said School Committee Chairwoman Eileen Hsu-Bazler.

The contracts also include a bonus for employees who did not receive a step raise in fisacl 2012. The bonus is $250 for Unit D and the SEIU, and $500 for Units B and C, Hsu-Balzer said.

The remaining contract left to be settled is with the custodians and food service workers.

Town Council President Mark Sideris, who sits on the School Committee, said he was glad to see the contacts settled.

"I look forward to moving forward in a collaborative fashion and and not have to deal with negotiations all the time," Sideris said. "I am very appreciative of all the members who agreed to these contracts."