Welcome to the Nashua Teachers' Union website. Our goal is to make this a place where NTU members will receive timely updates and information about their union, their schools and their profession. Please take a few minutes to tour the site and then come back frequently to stay up to date on what's happening at NTU. Thanks!

The arduous contract negotiations that finally ended led to a satisfying outcome for Nashua’s teachers and school nurses—and the city, by the way. It was an unnerving, challenging and terribly frustrating experience that often seemed destined for stalemate. The stakes were high, but at long last, the light at the end of the tunnel is here.

It is never a frivolous decision to be willing to walk off the job for what we feel is right, but we felt particularly vindicated by the overwhelming support we received from the Nashua community, especially parents. It is heartening to know that parents not only understand the challenges we face every day in the classroom but also respect the fact that we should be compensated fairly for the work we do for their children.

The 1,000 Nashua Teachers’ Union members have personified patience to an extreme. While they went without a pay increase since the 2005 contract, they have seen three tentative contract agreements come and go yet maintained their dignity and professionalism. But enough was enough.

The final five-year agreement shows that teachers and school nurses compromised a great deal to reach the end game. While union members will not get their much-sought-after retroactive pay hike for the first year of the contract—2006—they will receive fair step increases and raises for the 2007-2011 years of the contract. Beginning salaries also will move steadily upward, which will help attract talented people to the profession in our community. And it should not be forgotten that teachers and student nurses agreed to steep increases in their contributions to healthcare plans.

Now that the contentious negotiations are over, we can devote ourselves to what we do best—teaching and caring for Nashua’s students. We need to work with the school district and the state to put in place the programs that we know can raise student achievement. For example, New Hampshire’s academic standards, which are the building blocks for curriculum, instruction and assessments, don’t make the grade. According to a soon-to-be-released analysis by the American Federation of Teachers of states’ standards, New Hampshire’s English, science and social studies standards for all grades do not clearly or specifically define what students are expected to learn. Math standards, however, met the AFT’s rigorous critieria for elementary and middle school grades. We also have to make sure that classes are not too large, extra assistance is provided for students struggling academically, and that schools have effective and enforced programs to deal with chronic discipline problems.

With the support of parents, principals, the Nashua Board of Education and state education officials, we can work together to make Nashua public schools even better.

Robert Sherman, President, Nashua Teachers’ Union

April 11, 2008

To the membership:

Yesterday, Mayor Lozeau signed the teacher contract.  Also yesterday, the NTU Board of Directors voted to cancel all job-action related activities.

As soon as we know the details about pay checks and retro-active pay, we will update you.

Robert Sherman, President

Click here to read the Telegraph article.

In the April 2 edition of the Telegraph, the editorial board calls on the Board of Alderman to pass the teacher contract. Click here to read the editorial.

At the same time, the newspaper has filed suit in county court against the BOA. The lawsuit claims that the BOA meeting on Sunday at the Crowne Plaza to discuss the contract negotiations was a violation of the open meetings law. Click here to read that story.

Many supportive parents gave the NTU a lift during this difficult time. Their phone calls, letters to the editor and the rally at City Hall provided the Nashua community with an important perspective. The NTU wishes to thank everyone for their support - this is a community and it took a community effort to see this through.

The following is a note received late last night after a settlement had been reached:

"Congratulations - in so many ways this has been the worst and the best weekend of my life.  My family and I sat on pins and needles, but at the last possible minute - justice prevailed.  Please pass along our congratulations to all and thank you. I can not tell you how happy my children are to be going to school tomorrow with the teachers they love and I trust and admire. I think a few of us have learned from this that we have a little work to do to make sure this never happens again."
 
Best Wishes,
Kim Muise

Read the Telegraph story on last night's contract talks. Click here.

An hour before a tentative agreement was reached, the NTU Board of Directors was polled by phone to give President Sherman the authority to enter into an agreement with the Board of Education.

A majority of the Board voted to pass the following motion:

"A motion to give President Sherman the authority to call off the March 31 job action if a tentative agreement is reached with the Board of Education tonight."

A full membership meeting will be held on March 31 at 4:00p.m. at NHS-South.

The Monday morning strike deadline is fast approaching, while last minute negotiations continue. Teachers are still hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst.

Click the headline to read more.

Going against the opinion of the city's attorney, Board of Alderman President Steve Bolton closed off today's meeting involving 13 aldermen, school board members and other school officials to discuss teacher contract negotiations.

Yesterday, Alderman-at-Large David Deane raised concerns that having a quorum of aldermen meet to discuss the contract constituted a meeting, based on the state's open meetings law. However, Bolton said yesterday that the meeting could be closed because it involved negotiation.

State law allows for public bodies to meet privately for the purposes of "strategy or negotiations with respect to collective bargaining."

Today, James McNamee, corporation counsel for the city, issued a decision claiming that the meeting was a public meeting because aldermen do not have a negotiating role in the collective bargaining process.

"When a majority of aldermen attend a forum on a matter of public interest involving matters in the 'supervision, control, jurisdiction or advisory power' of the board, and one or more aldermen participate in discussion, the elements of a 'meeting' are fulfilled," McNamee wrote.

He continues: "The mayor and board of aldermen have a significant role in approving or rejecting cost items of collective bargaining agreements as the legislative body...Since the purpose of attending the mediation session can only be to discuss those matters, it will certainly constitute a meeting if a quorum of the board is present for the discussion. Further, the exclusion of matters involving 'strategy or negotiations with respect to collective bargaining' does not apply because the legislative body does not have a negotiating role in the collective bargaining process."

After discussing the issue with McNamee, Mayor Donnalee Lozeau, Superintdent Christopher Hottel and school board member Jack Kelley, Bolton closed the meeting, saying that it constituted a negotiation session and asked reporters to leave.

"It's my position that this is not a meeting," Bolton said.

Posted on Sunday, March 30, 2008 - 02:07 PM

Read the Telegraph story on yesterday's negotiations. Click here.

Paraprofessionals, secretaries and food service personnel met Thursday afternoon at the Ledge Street School. During that meeting many issues were discussed. This message is to follow up on a question from that session.

The Nashua Teachers' Union filed a complaint with the state Public Employee Relations Board charging that the Mayor and Superintendent have directly interfered with contract negotiations.

The complaint cites the Mayor's use of a so-called "salary calculator" and a letter to teachers threatening termination by the Superintendent as instances of "direct dealing," tactics designed to directly influence the negotiations. These tactics are in violation of state labor law.

A team of students from both Nashua High Schools have created a website as a forum to get student opinions about the ongoing contract dispute out to the public.

To read more, click the headline.

NHPR reporter David Darman reports that while many cities in New Hampshire are struggling with budget deficits this year, Nashua is not among them.

"In Nashua, there are no calls for a hiring freeze, or even a deficit to deal with.

Instead, Nashua treasurer David Fredette says his city is on track for a budget with money to spare.

Our surplus in the city normally runs to about 3 and a half million dollars annually. It's usually what we have for a surplus. And we anticipate the same kind of range this year.

Nashua typically puts that surplus into a kind of savings account, which the city can draw on during hard times."

To read or listen to David Darman's full report, click here.

The Treasurer's estimate, as well as Mayor Lozeau's acknowledgement yesterday, makes it clear that the city has sufficient funds to compensate Nashua's teachers fairly and to bring an end to this contract situation immediately.

Unless there is a contract settlement before the start of school on Monday, teachers will be on strike and will not report back to work until a settlement has been reached.

The NTU believes that there is still time to complete a final contract agreement before Monday and is ready to negotiate for as long as it takes to accomplish this.

Included in a possible strike are all school employees governed by the teachers' contract. This includes:

Teachers
Speech and Hearing Teachers
Guidance Counselors
Reading Consultants
Department Chairpersons
Specialists
Librarians
Peer Coaches
Head Teachers
School Nurses
School Psychologists
Social Workers
Co-curricular advisors
Sports Coaches

The NTU Building & Safety committee has made the necessary preparations in case a strike is called for Monday. If necessary, members will receive information about picketing from their schools' picket captains.

For updates on negotiations this weekend, members should stay tuned to the NTU website.

Members of the NTU Board of Directors are asked to be available for an emergency meeting if needed this weekend.

At a breakfast meeting before the Nashua Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Donnalee Lozeau acknowledged that the city has the money to settle the teacher contract.

Click the headline to read about the event.

The NTU has set a Monday, March 31 strike date unless a final contract settlement can be reached first. Preparations have been underway for some time and will continue in order to make this action, if necessary, as effective as possible.

Many things have been said publicly and privately about the ramifications of such an action. The following attempts to clarify some of the most common questions NTU members have asked about a potential strike. We will continue to update this list, but if you have a specific question that is not addressed here, please contact your Building Representative or the NTU office directly and we will make every effort to respond as quickly as possible.

Click the headline to read the Q&A.

Read the letter by Nashua High graduate and current education major Cassandra Loftus in today's Telegraph. Click here.

Yesterday the New Hampshire Public Employee Labor Relations Board refused to grant the Nashua Board of Education the cease-and-desist order it was seeking against the Nashua Teachers' Union as it prepares for a possible strike on March 31.

The Board of Education failed to convince the Labor Board that any irreparable harm has been caused by the NTU.

The Labor Board will issue its written decision at a later date.

To read the Telegraph article on the hearing, click here.

A rally in support of teachers was held outside City Hall on Tuesday night. Organized by a group of concerned parents, the rally drew about 250 parents and community members, contrary to published reports of a lower turnout.

Marching to chants of, "The teachers need a contract, the teachers need respect," attendees voiced their support for a fair and equitable end to the contract dispute.

Inside City Hall, during a regular aldermanic meeting, several Alderman commented on the contract situation.

As reported in the Telegraph, Alderman-at-Large Ben Clemons noted the rally outside and said, "I think it shows a commitment on behalf of our citizens that they too want this resolved quickly, and it shows a testament of support to our teachers."

That support is also voiced in three separate letters printed in today's edition of the Telegraph.

Letters from former Board of Education member Michael Clemons, Nashua parent Cindy Watts, and former Nashua student Sarah Morris all call for a fair settlement in time to avoid a strike.

To read all three letters, click here.

To read the Union Leader article about the rally, click here.

On Monday evening members of Nashua's legislative delegation attended a meeting hosted by the NTU to update them on the contract situation and to talk about state education funding sources.

To read more, click the headline.

The Telegraph reports on how the Board of Alderman will need to review a new contract proposal quickly if an agreement can be reached before the strike deadline. Click here.

Read Nashua teacher and NTU Vice President Charlie Reynolds' letter to the Telegraph. Click here.

Read Paraprofessional Simone Donahue's letter to the Telegraph. Click here.

Several parents attended Thursday's NTU press conference. Among them, Kim Muise took a few minutes to address the press and the greater Nashua community. To read the full text of her remarks, click the headline.

The NTU is heartened by the outpouring of support by parents. The NTU will continue to pursue a fair and equitable contract settlement and sincerely hope to avoid any disruption at our schools. The high level of support by parents for the teachers is a great boost to our efforts.

Thank you.

To the NTU membership:

As I have told teachers at the several schools I have visited, the City will go after the NTU legally first, before going after individual members.  Yesterday, the Superintendent announced that they will pursue legal action against the union.

Our legal responses are being prepared and, as proceedings develop, I will keep you posted.  This is why the negotiations on Tuesday are very important to both sides and the Nashua community.

Bob Sherman, President

Read the Telegraph article on the legal filings by the district. Click here.

Read the Telegraph coverage of the contract situation. Click here.

Read, print and share this two page document that explains where the two sides differ on the main issue standing in the way of a final contract agreement.

The Nashua Teachers’ Union set a Monday, March 31, strike date for Nashua public school teachers and school nurses if there is no contract settlement by then, NTU President Robert Sherman announced today.

The NTU Executive Board voted unanimously today to set a strike date because protracted contract negotiations over nearly two years have yielded no progress. The decision to strike also was endorsed by the union’s Board of Directors and the Building and Safety Committee. The union membership, by an all-but unanimous voice vote on Feb. 19, gave the Executive Board the authority to call for any job action, including a strike.

Absent any breakthrough, Nashua teachers and school nurses will be on strike starting Monday, March 31.

“Strikes are always a last resort, but we definitely have reached that point,” Sherman said. “It is painfully apparent that Nashua’s elected city leaders are unwilling to pay teachers and school nurses fairly.”

Sherman acknowledged that strikes create temporary inconveniences for students and parents but said that a strong society must pay teachers and school nurses fairly.  

“We’re tired of hearing lip service about the importance of teachers and then having three contract agreements nullified for various political reasons. We’re professionals and insist on being treated as professionals,” Sherman said.

“Negotiations are a two-way street, with both sides giving and taking. We’ve given plenty, but the other side is just taking,” Sherman said.

The last formal negotiation session was March 14, which lasted just two hours. No negotiation sessions have been scheduled, although Sherman said he would like to go back to the bargaining table if the Board of Education “is willing to move toward a fair, negotiated settlement.”

To read the Telegraph article, click here.

Over 400 hundred NTU members turned out to picket at the district's job fair last night at North High School. Many prospective job applicants were unaware of the contract situation here, but left better educated and with something to think about when considering employment here.

The large turnout of NTU members also revealed that members are highly energized and united in finding a fair settlement to the contract.

To read the Telegraph story about the picketing, click here.

Nashua teacher James Firmin speaks out on the teacher contract in a letter to the Telegraph. Read the letter here.

Read the March 15 Nashua Telegraph report on contract negotiations. Click here to read the full article.

Read  the March 14 letter from the NTU Bargaining Team

Nashua teacher David Goldsmith speaks out on the teacher contract in a letter to the Telegraph. Read the letter here.

Read the March 14 Telegraph article reporting on NTU activities to support the bargaining team's effort to reach a fair contract settlement. Click here.

Today in Concord, the NH Senate will consider SB 539, a school aid package that could mean an additional $13.5 million for Nashua's schools. The additional funds would be available to the district for the 2009-10 school year.

At Monday night's Board of Education meeting, NTU President Bob Sherman reminded board members that these funds, if approved, should be considered within the context of the ongoing contract negotiations. The additional money would come during the fourth year of the contract currently being negotiated bewtween the NTU and Board of Education.

For more background, click here to download and read the Feb. 29 Telegraph article about the school aid proposal.

Nashua teacher Walter Freeman speaks out on the teacher contract in a letter to the Telegraph. Read the letter here.

Read the March 13 Telegraph article on the teacher-arbitration bill being considered in the state legislature. Click here.

 

On Tuesday March 11 the Interest-Free Loan Committee held a meeting as part of NTU's preparation for a possible job action. Click the headline to read the article.

 

 

March 7, 2008 - The Nashua Teachers’ Union asked the New Hampshire Public Employee Labor Relations Board today whether the mayor and the board of aldermen violated state laws by exceeding the legal time limit for accepting or rejecting tentative contract agreements with the union. Click on headline to read the press release and view the legal brief.

Click here to read the March 8 Nashua Telegraph article

Superintendent Hottel's March 6 letter to Nashua's teachers was unfortunate in it's timing, coming on the heels of a day long session of mediated negotiations. The NTU and Board of Education, with the assistance of a professional mediator, continue to work towards a just settlement.

In regards to the Superintendent's statement that, "your collective bargaining agreement should and can be resolved in a lawful and peaceful manner," Mr. Hottel need not be reminded that this has been attempted three times in the last two years without a successful outcome.

The NTU shares the Superintendent's concerns about the safety of our students and any interruption of their education. The NTU will continue to negotiate in good faith and work towards a fair and equitable contract. However, all options will remain open to achieve this goal.

On the eve of a new round of teacher contract negotiations, the New Hampshire AFL-CIO and AFT-New Hampshire announced their support today for the Nashua Teachers’ Union’s effort to secure a fair contract.

The New Hampshire AFL-CIO, which represents 40,000 members, “supports the Nashua Teachers’ Union in their struggle to secure a just contract settlement,” said a resolution passed this week by the New Hampshire AFL-CIO Executive Council.

“The Nashua teachers and school nurses are extremely dedicated to their students and only are asking to be treated fairly and professionally,” said Laura Hainey, president of AFT-New Hampshire, which is the parent union of the Nashua Teachers’ Union. AFT-New Hampshire represents more than 3,500 workers.

In addition, the American Federation of Teachers, NTU's national affiliate, has sent staff to Nashua to assist the local with communications and logistical planning. The AFT represents 1.4 million workers around the country.

“We’re gratified to receive so much support from the labor community. It keeps our members’ spirits up as we enter a new phase of negotiations,” NTU President Bob Sherman said.

Read the Nashua Telegraph story

 

Mayor Lozeau is using the city's website to publish what her office claims are salary figures for teachers that may have resulted under her vetoed version of the last tentative agreement reached between the union and the Board of Education.

The "calculations" the mayor is using distort the facts and do not account for the difference between the last tentative agreement and her proposal. On average, teachers would forfeit an additional $2,600 under the mayor's plan.

As negotiations resume under mediation this week, the mayor's actions serve to fundamentally undermine the process.

The NTU believes the mayor's actions may be in violation of state law governing public employee negotiations and is looking into filing an unfair labor practice with the NH State Labor Board.

Despite the mayor's attempt to use these distorted salary figures as a wedge to pit newer teachers against veterans, the NTU membership remains united in reaching a contract agreement that is fair, equitable and respectful of all our professional educators.

Download and print out the Parent Petition in support of a quick resolution to contract negotiations. Please pass along to supportive parents, but please DO NOT SEND HOME WITH STUDENTS.

Read president Bob Sherman's Op-Ed on the contract impasse published in the Nashua Telegraph. Click here to read the column.