Bridgewater, Raritan Teachers To Rally For Contract Settlement

BRIDGEWATER/RARITAN, NJ — The Bridgewater Raritan Education Association is planning a rally on Monday as negotiations continue between the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education and teachers.

The rally will be held at the Wade Administration Building, 836 Newmans Ln., in the Martinsville section of Bridgewater before and during the contract mediation meeting.

Supporters are invited to attend the rally, which will begin at 4:30 p.m. and last about two hours. The BREA will be serving coffee, tea, water and cookies for supporters.

The Somerset County Education Association Vice President, Henry Goodhue, will be speaking and leading the rally.

The contract

Negotiations between Bridgewater-Raritan school employees and the Board of Education went on for seven months before the contract expired on June 30. The expiration affects about 1,200 school employees in the district.

When an agreement could not be met the New Jersey Education Association impasse was declared over the issues of health care and salary. (See Related: Bridgewater Teachers To Rally Thursday For Contract Settlement)

The issue with healthcare coverage is a sticking point in multiple districts. New Providence in Union County and Bound Brook and North Plainfield school districts in Somerset County are all facing an impasse in teachers' contracts due to disagreements over medical benefits. (See Related: New Providence Teachers Start School Year Without Contract)

The legislation in question is Chapter 78 introduced by former Governor Chris Christie, which calls for a percentage of teachers' salaries to pay for their medical benefits.

(Image via Google Maps: Wade Administrative Building)

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.