Nashua Teachers Demand New Contract

NASHUA, NH — The Nashua Teachers' Union is demanding a new contract after the current one expired last week. The lapse led the union to ask members to drop out of some school committees and threaten more action if a new contract is not signed by September 18. Union President Adam Marcoux cited a "lack of communication" from the board, as the two sides last met for negotiations in June. The para-educators' contract also expired June 30.

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"I have tried numerous times to engage in talks to move this process forward for both teachers and para-educators only to be met with responses stating why the Board could not meet or with no response at all," Marcoux said in a statement. "The silence is deafening."

Nashua School Board President George Farrington told Patch the board has been unable to meet with the union for several reasons, including the hiring of new schools superintendent Jahmal Mosley in April and the start of school last week.

“Negotiations are never easy but both sides have been making a good faith effort to find a solution," Farrington told Patch.

Marcoux said the union recently voted to take the following actions:

• "...All members are asked discontinue membership on all district committees
• ...All members are asked discontinue membership on all school committees that are not contractual obligations."

If there is no contract agreement by September 18, the union threatened these additional actions:

• "...Members are asked to discontinue advising any club or organization for which they do not receive a stipend
• all members are asked to cancel and not schedule any field trips
• all members are asked to discontinue writing letters of recommendation for higher education
• all members are asked to “Work to Your Contract” – follow the contract: Come to work at the start of the pupil day (15 minutes before the pupil day starts; traditionally the first bell) ... Leave work 10 minutes after the pupil day ... Complete all work related to your job (grading, planning, etc.) during your planning time."

"For the third straight contract, teachers are starting the school year without a contract, Marcoux said. "For para-educators, this is the second straight contract those employees are starting without a contract. We are trying to come to agreements that are fair and equitable to our teachers and para-educators while understanding the budgetary impact on the school district and the City ... However, that is difficult to accomplish when requests to meet go unanswered.”

Related:

• Nashua Names New Superintendent
• Nashua School Calendar 2017-18

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