To the editor:

On April 29, 2015, the Westport School Committee failed to ratify the Memorandum of Agreement for a new contract between the Westport Federation of Teachers and the Westport School Committee.

Westport Selectman, R. Michael Sullivan voted against it citing fiscal concerns. Westport School Committee member, Nancy Rioux voted against it. No reason was given as to why. Westport School Committee Chair Michelle Duarte and Westport School Committee member Tony Viveiros both were not present for voting. Again, no reason was given as to why.

The current salary for a veteran teacher (i.e somebody teaching at the highest step) with a master's degree in Westport is $64,534.  The average salary for a veteran teacher (i.e. somebody teaching at the highest step) with a master's degree in the 25 communities surrounding Westport is $74,382...in 2014.

The agreement that was voted down by the Westport School Committee would have boosted our current veteran teachers’ salary with a master's degree to $74,856...by 2017. The agreement would have also boosted non-veteran teachers’ salaries, but by a far lesser amount.

While this figure may appear to be too high (or too low), it is what highly-qualified teachers are paid.  We talk about fiscal responsibility, but does our community not have a social and ethical responsibility as well?  Is it responsible to place the burden of an underfunded town and an underfunded school on the shoulders of teachers who have no vote?

It was stated that the agreement was fiscally irresponsible. Not once was the Town of Westport, Board of Selectman, or Finance Committee propositioned for additional money in order to fund the salary increases. We believe that any increases could be (and should be) incorporated into the current budget and the proposed budgets going forward.  So this begs the question — is there nothing in the budget that is valued less than your teachers?  A timeline of events is below:

• November 2013: The Westport Federation of Teachers begins negotiations with the Westport School Committee Negotiating Team.

• July 2014: The Federation and the School Committee Negotiating Team reach an agreement in regards to salary.

• July 2014: The School Committee reneges on the salary agreement.

August 2014: The Westport Federation of Teachers' contract officially expires.

• September 2014: In response to the School Committee's action, the Federation is left no choice but to 'work to rule'.

• October 2014: The School Committee requests a mediator to help negotiate all non-salary issues.

• November 2014: The School Committee decides to honor the salary agreement that was reneged upon and in response the Federation ends 'work to rule' immediately.

• January 2015: The Federation and School Committee negotiating team finalize all outstanding issues.

• April 2015: The Federation unanimously ratifies the Memorandum of Agreement (consisting of all negotiated changes to the contract) between the Federation and the Westport School Committee negotiating team.

Andrew Cottrill

President, Westport Federation of Teachers