EG Teachers Not Celebrating New Contract

EAST GREENWICH, RI — Teachers at the top step will receive a one-time $121,000 payment next month, but the union says it's not at all happy with the new deal. The East Greenwich Education Association (EGEA) on April 26 ratified a 3-year contract. But, the union said, teachers "approved the agreement under duress as the school committee threatened further punitive measures if ratification did not take place."

The contract is retroactive to September 2016. In the first year, which is almost over, the teachers receive a zero pay increase, but they get 2 percent and 2.5 percent in the second and third years, respectively. They also continue to collect step increases. For the top step, the $121,000 payment is a health care buyback.

“Teachers are angry at the School Committee and the Town Council for continuing to underfund the public schools of East Greenwich,” said Judi Cavanaugh, co-president of EGEA. “The actions of the Council and School Committee undervalue our teachers and East Greenwich educators feel disrespected by this oppressive contract.”

A change in the health plan was one of the contentious items. Teachers stay on the current plan through the remainder of the calendar year, but will move to a Health Savings Account and High Deductible Plan starting in January 2018. The school district will contribute 50 percent of the annual deductible. Employees will contribute the other half through pre-tax payroll deductions and will be responsible for a 20 percent share of the health care plan costs. But costs that exceed the deductible will be covered 100 percent. The upcoming changes in the health care plan — and scuttling the healthcare buyback — are expected to absorbthe costs of the pay raises.

"Even though the School Committee claimed moving teachers to a high-deductible health plan was to ensure that all municipal employees had equitable benefits," the union said, it still wasn't equitable. "Many of those other employees enjoy fringe and retirement benefits not available to the teachers," the union claimed.

“EGEA acknowledges the Town of East Greenwich is facing financial issues, but is disappointed in the members of the School Committee and the Town Council for making choices that put teachers last,” said JoAnne Leach, chair of the EGEA negotiating team.

But the work in the classroom will continue.

"Despite the severe terms and conditions of employment forced by the school committee, East Greenwich teachers remain committed to their efforts in providing exemplary classroom experiences to their students," the union said.

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