WESTBROOK (NEWS CENTER Maine) — Union members of the Westbrook Education Association held another rally ahead of the start of the school day Wednesday morning as a show of strength in their ongoing contract negotiation with the school department.
Teachers, nurses, councilors and other staff members wore red and held up signs demanding the school committee to meet their needs.
Union members say negations have been happening since march 2017 and still they do not have a contract as the school year draws to a close.
Money isn't the issue, the Westbrook Education Association President, Jared Ruthman says.Ruthman is a social studies teacher at Westbrook High School.
The organization is looking for a contract that "reflects the modern realities of proficiency based education". Jared Rutham says that includes a non-discrimination clause, language that maintains safe work working conditions, and more.
"Most of the contract language is from the 80s, and I think that every parent knows, and every citizen in this country understands that education has radically changed, and working conditions have radically changed. We're asking for language not money." said Ruthman.
