On a cold Monday morning — following a weekend of behind-the-scenes discussions among Newton Public Schools (NPS) administrators, staff, and PTOs regarding appropriate ways to welcome student back — Newton Public Schools opened for classes on February 5 for the first time in 18 days. Superintendent Anna Nolin told Fig…
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Fig City News recently spoke with David Helfman, a Newton resident with significant experience in labor strike negotiations, advising unions on collective bargaining packages, as well as serving as a trustee on pension funds. The notes from this discussion are condensed for this article. FCN: You have a background serving on…
Following reports on January 24 of meaningful progress being made in the negotiations between the Newton School Committee and Newton Teachers Association (NTA), January 25 brought progress to a standstill, with a significant decline in rapport. The two sides once again held separate press conferences that night. At 9:37AM on…
The teachers strike continues, and schools remain closed at least through January 24. New information includes a comprehensive proposal document from the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) and a spreadsheet prepared by Newton Public Schools (NPS) comparing the stances of the NTA versus NPS. During the bargaining session on Monday, January…
On Tuesday, January 22, Newton Teachers Association President Mike Zilles sent Fig City News this response to the analysis that former Newton School Committee Chair Matt Hills had provided to Fig City News the previous day.
Late in the afternoon of January 22, the Middlesex Superior Court issued a ruling on the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board (CERB) motion of civil contempt order submitted earlier in the day. This motion was filed because the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) did not comply with the Court’s ruling to call…
This weekend, Fig City News discussed the dynamics surrounding the current Newton Teachers Strike with Newton resident Matt Hills. A former member of the Newton School Committee (2010-2018; Chair 2014-2017), Hills is currently Vice Chair of the Board of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Interview notes are…
Following the Department of Labor Relation’s ruling late yesterday, Middlesex County Superior Court has issued a preliminary injunction in favor of the Newton School Committee. The text of the injunction ruling reads: Preliminary Injunction issued for Plaintiff Commonwealth Employment Relations Board. It is ordered and adjudged that Defendants(s) Newton Teachers…
Ruling establishes fact of illegal strike, however State Superior Court would impose potential penalties. The Massachusetts Commonwealth Employment Relations Board (“CERB”) issued a ruling that the Newton Teacher’s Association (“NTA”) and the employees it represents, prior to their vote on January 18 “are about to engage in a strike in…
Unresolved NTA Contract Overhangs Meeting Agenda. The School Committee meeting on January 8, consistent with prior meetings for the past few months, began with several public commenters advocating for higher City budget allocations to Newton Public Schools (NPS) in order to settle the outstanding negotiation with the Newton Teachers Association…