Thread by @wgarrity_ma

#mapoli #maedu Very important Pittsfield School Committee meeting happening in about 15 minutes!

You can watch it only on PCTV Channel 1302 as it will not be broadcast anywhere else.

https://twitter.com/wgarrity_ma/status/1567327952794173440

Tonight they will (hopefully) be voting to approve new contracts for 4 bargaining units under the Pittsfield Federation of School Employees: paras, bus drivers and assistants, cafeteria workers, and secretaries.

Background on the contracts before then

https://twitter.com/wgarrity_ma/status/1566212876179742722?t=NuQY71RbNXOQOC8jXQy81A&s=19

All four bargaining units should have finished up their votes to ratify the contracts by now. If they ratified them, then the school committee will be able to approve them tonight and they will go into effect immediately!

And the meeting has started!

Mr. Brazeau is absent tonight, Mr. Elias is filling in for the clerk of the committee. Everyone else is present however.

And the school committee has voted to go into executive session!

Now we wait...

This could take anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple hours.

OH that is why this meeting isn't being broadcasted on PCTV Select! Its because there is a football game.

And they are back!

Dr. Cameron announces that there were no votes taken in executive session

Dr. Cameron says that this meeting will be voting on memorandum of understandings with the 4 bargaining unions mentioned. So it seems like it will go through tonight!

Dr. Cameron makes a few mentions:
- "Extremely gratified" that they were able to reach agreements with the bargaining units
- "we are making major salary agreements... and that we are doing so"

- lot of difficulties, some of which went into the public, but they have come to an agreement
- 21-22 agreement will result in retro pay, he believes that is "fair" to the employees that work during that "difficult" period

- "Helping our employees financially"

The 21-22 MOUs with the Federation approved unanimously!

The 22-25 MOUs with the Federation (the 3-year contracts) approved unanimously!

Dr. Cameron expresses his "sincere thanks" to all of the employees in the bargaining units for their patience, hopes that the employees find it "satisfactory"

And they have adjourned!

So this is really big news! The paras, cafeteria workers, bus drivers and attendants, and secretaries have a new contract and will be paid more than minimum wage (and back pay)! As said in the meeting, they are hopeful to reach an agreement with the custodians soon #mapoli #maedu

Information on the big changes in the contract here

https://twitter.com/wgarrity_ma/status/1566212887332491266

@threadreaderapp unroll