Friday August 3rd, 2007
To Our Members,
In the August 2nd edition of the Canton Citizen there was an interview with John Bonnanzio, Chair of the Canton School Committee. The article may be found by clicking on the "Latest News" button on the left of this page. You will see that the article paints a very unprofessional view of you. The characterization of Canton teachers is not only derogatory and false, but also borders on what some would consider defamatory.
The Canton Teachers Association is planning a response. We will be sending a letter to the Editor of the Canton Citizen as a form of rebuttal. Additionally, we will be requesting an interview with the Publisher/Editor of the same newspaper in order to get our side of the story out to the residents of Canton.
Here are the facts from our most recent collective bargaining session on July 23: The school committee proposed to us a one year contract with a 0% raise and a change in longevity, Article VI, making it available with 13 years of teaching experience (10 years in Canton), instead of the current 15 year requirement. The school committee also proposed increasing the longevity amount: $850 for year 13 to $2800 for year 35. For those of us who are already receiving longevity this was an increase in the longevity payment of $350 to $400. Our negotiations committee calculated that the increase in the longevity amount would be approximately 1/10 of 1% of most teachers' total annual salary. Additionally, the school committee informed the CTA that this proposed increase in longevity would be paid for from the funds used for the Teacher Retirement Stipend, Appendix E, only 7 teachers would receive the retirement stipend (current language allows for 10 teachers), and the total amount for the increase in the longevity provision would be $30,000. Because this offer would result in us funding our own miniscule raise for the longevity stipend, would not apply to at least 50% of our members, and would financially harm those of us planning to retire next year and beyond, our negotiation committee rejected the school committee's offer.
The school committee's offer is not an incentive for teachers stay in the system. We are good at what we do and that is providing high quality education to the children of Canton. But we need to make a living as well through a reasonable and competitive salary.
This fight is just beginning. We now need to build momentum for what is ahead of us. Please encourage friends, neighbors, and family members who appreciate the work we do to write letters to the press in response to the article. Letters to the editor of the Canton Citizen may be sent to 866 Washington St. Canton, MA 02021
Feel free to share this website with other community members.
We may be contacted at cantonteachers@gmail.com
Patty Willis, Chair, Negotiations Committee
Pat Phalan, Chair, Crisis Committee
Katey Swanson, President