Bridgewater Teachers To Rally Thursday For Contract Settlement

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater-Raritan teachers are fed up with the ongoing and unresolved teacher contract issue and are planning a rally for relief on Thursday.

"We rally for relief from this ongoing disrespect for public school employees. We all deserve better. It's time to demand change, and our time is now," according to the rally flier.

As this is an issue spanning over multiple towns, hundreds of people and several state legislators are expected to attend the rally on Main Street in Somerville from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

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.

"Specifically, the Board wishes for the Association to reduce the level of coverage its members currently receive and use those savings to fund a settlement, in essence, having the members pay for their own salaries," said Fred Skirbst, NJEA representative for the Bridgewater-Raritan staff.

"It’s important to note that the district switched providers several years ago and saved a significant amount of money; in addition, the Association agreed to reduce its members’ level of coverage three years ago in order to fund a settlement, and now the Board wants it to happen again," Skirbst said.

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.

Skirbst noted that because of Chapter 78 the majority of the teachers and support staff have taken home less pay each of the last six years.

Additionally, the BRBOE also wants to offer new hires a significantly reduced level of coverage, which only serves as a deterrent to attract and retain quality educators and staff in Bridgewater, according to Skirbst.

"As always, the Association remains open to discussions, but not if it means having to reduce their health care in order to see a raise," Skirbst said.

The next mediation session is scheduled for Oct. 22 and teachers and supporters are encouraged to come at 4:30 p.m. to the Wade Building, 836 Newmans Ln. in Martinsville and express their concerns over the contract not yet being settled.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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