HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) - Staff members with the state’s biggest public school district say they need better working conditions.
Hartford Public School unions rallied at a board meeting Tuesday to highlight those issues.
Security guards, secretaries, teachers, and other school staff came together to address the school board about their concerns.
As contract negotiations come back around, staffers say they need the district to work with them on major issues.
Hartford educators are holding a rally to demand better working conditions from the Board of Education.
"Just feeling like our voices are not being heard," Tiffany Moyer stated.
Hartford school staffers say they’re overwhelmed, underpaid, and unappreciated.
Teachers, nurses, security guards, and paraeducators are sending a united message to their board of education.
"The unions that represent their staff need to be treated better if they want to keep staff," Carol Gale, president of the Hartford Federation of Teachers, says.
The unions are asking for affordable health insurance, safe work environments, and expanded professional growth.
A major issue is better pay.
"We are changing diapers 7 to 1 with students in person, yet we haven’t has a raise in over six years," para professional Laura Panneau stated.
"We have officers working three to four jobs to make ends meet at home for their families," Davie Velez, president of the special police officers union.
Some union reps say they’ve also gone years without a contract.
"The school nurses have been working without a contract since 2018. It’s been expired," Shevaun Russell, a representative of school nurses, explained.
"For the last seven years, without a contract, we’re still here showing that we care about this community," Grace Figueroa, vice president of the special police officers union, said.
Negotiations for the Hartford Federation of Teachers begins in several weeks, but for other unions, it’s up in the air.
School staffers believe the conditions are contributing to a shortage and impacting students.
"It feels like the conditions in our schools are not positive and have not been getting better," teacher Lindsey Glick stated.
Board members did not comment on today’s rally or demands, but Superintendent Leslie Torres-Rodriguez discussed the staffing shortage.
Hartford educators are holding a rally to demand better working conditions from the Board of Education.
"The team is working with the chief of schools and her team to develop a school by school contingency plan to address the vacancies," Torres-Rodriguez added.
Another issue is funding from the Cares Act.
The teachers union says the district didn't take into account their ideas when it came to the federal money and they’d like to see the money reallocated.
(1) comment
They can demand anything they want, then, pound sand. Binding arbitration darlings. You democrats wanted it, and you have to live with it. Talk to your Union rep and make demands for what you want negotiated into your next contract. That's the process. Oh, and by the way, prepare to give something up (maybe some of your lavish salary or retirement benefits) for your new demands, the taxpayers are tired of you whining and won't bankroll your ever whim.
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