City Council Approves New School Secretaries Contract, with Reservations

The City Council last week approved a new contract for school secretaries, but not before blasting the school department for negotiating for deep cuts that they said were a "travesty of justice."

But the secretaries union, afraid of potentially deeper cuts if the contract wasn't approved by the City Council, urged the council to pass it anyway.

"It's wrong for one of the lowest paid bargaining units in the city have to bear a $221,000 cut in their contract while administrators are receiving raises," said Councilman Don Botts. "It's blatantly unfair."

Council members took issue with the severity of the cuts, including a provision that full-time secretaries will work five days with no pay, lose five paid holidays, endure a wage freeze, longevity pay freezes and higher medical insurance costs. Part time secretaries will work four days with no pay.

Secretaries now have a $500 deductible and co-pays will be $15 for a doctor's visit, $25 for a specialist and $50 for urgent care. Emergency room visits will cost $100 and prescription drug costs also go up.

"It's pretty stiff medicine for the union, but they're asking us to approve it," said Councilman Steve Stycos.

Union President Lori Ryan told the council that the secretaries make between $34,000 and $39,000.

The school district entered negotiations looking for an across-the-board 15 percent wage cut. That proposal was rejected in non-binding arbitration, leading to the current contract, which means union members were worried what the contract might look like if the council opted not to ratify it and send everyone back to the negotiating table.

Council Vice President Michael Farina said he heard "fear" in the union president's voice at last month's Finance Committee meeting. He originally was planning on voting against the contract out of principle, but when he heard the union's urgings to approve it anyway, he said he felt obliged.

"I will vote for this contract, but I don't think it's a fair contract," Farina said.

Councilman Richard Santamaria said he thought the contract was "shameful" and he had to vote in favor it it "because I don't want to hurt you any worse than you've been hurt," he said, describing the experience as "eating a rat sandwich."

"The money used for [raises] for administrators could have been used to help you out," Santamaria said.

Council members also hinted at the school district's surplus at the end of the last fiscal year. Though the amount of the surplus hasn't been officially released, it is expected to be more than $1 million.

"I see this as an injustice because the School Committee is chipping away at the lower paid individuals at a time when the school department is giving raises to their administrators with six-figure salaries," said Councilman Paul Archetto. "The union took a major hit."

Council President John E. Lanni Jr. said the contract is a "shame" and the secretaries "got stepped on."

"It's an injustice," Lanni said. "I feel bad for this union, but I will have to vote for this because they want it." 

The secretaries union has 61 members.

To read the arbitrator's report, click here.