Our hardworking school employees are on work-to-rule because our city has refused to bargain a fair and respectful contract.
Northampton needs to demand that our leaders support the people who support our children. Stand with our school employees, and hold our mayor, superintendent, and School Committee accountable for the choices that they are making.
Mr. Mayor, we call BS on your override. Do not tell us it’s for teacher contracts. Northampton is a city of hardworking people. Yes, there are rich people, but most of us are living paycheck to paycheck. Teachers and other school employees deserve a living wage, and a fair contract, but you don’t need an override to do that.
You have plenty of money in your budget right now. We have the continued revenue of the pot money. We have a robust reserve. The union offered to eliminate the sick leave retirement buyout for teachers, and the School Committee refused it.
Teachers in Northampton are paid 19th lowest in the state. You are still paying some school employees below minimum wage. We can’t get enough substitute teachers because we pay them less than minimum wage.
Shame on you. It’s about priorities. You say that you support a living wage for all, that you value education, and that you are “progressive.” Well, this is a union city, and a ton of people who know the value of a dollar. We aren’t interested in leaders who can just talk the talk. It is time for the people of Northampton to call our mayor, superintendent, and School Committee and tell them that if you can’t walk the walk, we will find leaders who can.
You can’t value schools if you don’t value school employees. You can’t support a living wage for all while you pay folks below the minimum wage. You can’t be progressive while refusing to fund basic human needs. Tell our mayor, superintendent, and school committee to negotiate a fair contract with our school employees now! Enough is enough!
Jean Flegenheimer
Florence
The author is a teacher in the Northampton Public Schools.