Watertown teachers will soon have a new contract. The Watertown Educators Association and the School Committee announced Tuesday that a settlement had been reached, and it must now be ratified by the union and then approved by the School Committee.
Details about the contract have not been released. At the most recent School Committee meeting union representatives spoke about some of the areas they sought more from the district, including salaries in line with neighboring districts and guaranteed parental leave for both parents of a newborn.
Teachers went to work to rule in late January to show their displeasure with the fact they were working without a contract and wanted a contract that would put them on par with other districts in the area.
The following is a joint statement from the Watertown School Committee and the Watertown Educators Association:
On Monday, February 13, the Watertown School Committee and the Watertown Educators Association reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract.
Our negotiating teams have worked tirelessly in recent months to make this moment possible, and we are deeply appreciative of their hard work and dedication. We believe their efforts have led to a deal that serves our teachers, our city, and our students and families.
We also appreciated the respectful public dialogue throughout this process. Together, we remain committed to providing Watertown’s students and families with the best educational experience we can offer, and believe this contract furthers this commitment.
The proposed agreement will go before the full WEA body for a ratification vote and subsequently to the Watertown School Committee for approval later this month.
That was fast! Who blinked?
An agreement was made with no strike. Good news all around. That’s all we need to know.