Westborough leaders begin planning for next year’s collective bargaining; multiple units to negotiate

Superintendent Allison told the Westborough School Committee on June 11 that initial discussions with the teachers’ union leadership have begun as the district prepares for multiple contract negotiations next year.

“Allison said she had initial contact with Michelle Fridley, who’s the president of the Westwood Educators Association, and that the union has a team ready and they have started to talk about dates,” the superintendent said.

Allison listed the bargaining units due to renegotiate next year: teachers, paraprofessionals, administrative assistants, custodians, tutors and food services. She said district leaders will coordinate which members of the school committee will participate on which negotiating teams and that some district leaders (including student services staff) will join negotiations that touch special education or paraprofessional issues.

A long-serving committee member, Steve, described the district’s historic approach to bargaining as collaborative and pragmatic. “Nobody can get 100% of the position that they start with,” Steve said, adding that past negotiations have resulted in compromises that, in his view, benefited students and staff.

The committee chair will assign committee members to negotiating teams; Allison said she will begin setting dates and involving appropriate district leaders. No formal motions or votes were taken during the update.

Committee members were invited to express interest in serving on negotiation teams and staff will coordinate schedules and roles ahead of formal bargaining sessions.