EG Teachers Plan Silent Protest

EAST GREENWICH, RI — The teachers' union is planning a silent protest. The demonstration is set for the East Greenwich Town Council/School Committee joint meeting on Monday, May 15 at 7 p.m, at Swift Community Center, 121 Peirce St. The teachers want to let the councilors and school committee know they're unhappy about the new three-year contract.

The deal calls for a one-time health care buyback payment of $121,000 in June to top-teachers and a 2 percent pay hike for the upcoming year. There is no raise this year, but teachers will continue to receive step increases. In the third year, the teachers will receive a 2.5 percent pay raise.

“The Town Council has decided through their actions that teachers will suffer the consequences of their mismanagement, poor planning, and practices,” said Christina O’Day, an organizer of the event. “The purpose of this protest is to ensure council members see us for once. See the teachers that are bearing the brunt of the town’s economic woes.”

The union said its main points are:

• The schools are underfunded

• Other town entities are not facing cuts

• Fiscal mismanagement has caused the bleak economic outlook in the town

• EG saved money on the backs of teachers

“The easy thing to do is blame teachers. We teach; we don't manage budgets. I think if the taxpayers of East Greenwich are presented with all the facts, they would truly understand our concerns. What I know with certainty is that over 22 years of teaching, the cost of living has gone up and my overall financial package has eroded steadily,” O’Day said.

The union is promising a respectful and professional demonstration.

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