Teachers represented by the Fall River Educators’ Association (FREA) have approved a new contract with the city following a year-long set of negotiations resulting in a tentative agreement just before Christmas.
More from the FREA
Teachers, nurses, attendance officers, behavior therapists and related service providers belonging to the Fall River Educators’ Association overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year contract offering dramatic wage increases, improved paid family leave benefits, safer buildings, and guardrails designed to keep workloads manageable.The tentative agreement will now go to the full school committee for a vote to finalize the Unit A contract for 2025-2027.
Two more FREA units representing licensed practical nurses(LPNs), therapy assistants and School Administration Managers are still negotiating with the School Committee.
FREA President Keith Michon said because of the gap between educators’ salaries in Fall River and those in surrounding districts, the stakes were high when it came to settling with the teachers’ unit.
“Salaries and working conditions have not been competitive in our district. Great educators have been leaving our schools because the pay was so much better in nearby districts. This new contract begins to correct that problem and I am hopeful we will attract and retain the highly qualified educators that our students deserve,” Michon said.
Members of FREA’s Unit A covered in the ratified contract will receive pay increases between 18% and 21% over the duration of the agreement.
One FREA member commented, “The pay increase with this new contract will mean I can continue to live in the city I work in.”
The new contract also calls for the district to pay for four weeks of family leave and allows members to use other accumulated time as well as access a family leave bank.
Another FREA member said: “The parental leave is a huge win. As someone who hasn’t started their family yet, it gives me an incentive to stay with the district.”
The FREA began the school year working under the terms of an expired, outdated contract. Educators organized several rallies and public demonstrations around School Committee meetings and bargaining sessions.
“FREA solidarity and support from the community and other unions in our region made this contract settlement possible. We stood up for ourselves and for our students and won a contract that we can be proud of,” Michon said.
The Fall River School Committee will likely vote on the new contract when it meets on February 10.
