Woonsocket Radio News Room

September 4, 2018

 

Woonsocket Teachers and Para’s Start Work to Rule

 

Woonsocket, RI - Today the Teachers and Paraprofessionals at the Woonsocket Education Department began a “Work to Rule” job action because of an impasse in their contract negotiations. “For the first time in over 30 years we do not have a contract at the beginning of a school year,” stated Jeffrey Partington, President of the Woonsocket Teachers’ Guild. “The hard-working Teachers and Paraprofessionals of this city deserve a fair and equitable contract.  It is clear that the Mayor, in an election year, is holding the purse strings, and has no desire to move the city forward by investing appropriate funds in public education.”

On August 29, 2018, a letter requesting mediation in the dispute was sent to the Department of Labor from the Woonsocket School Committee.  The letter was signed by the chair of the committee, Soren Seale. “We welcome the School Committee’s request for mediation,” Mr. Partington said. “This is the logical next step in this process, and we are confident that we can come to an expedient equitable solution.”  

When asked about the logistics of the “Work to Rule” job action, Mr. Partington revealed that, “The WTG and the Woonsocket Education Department have worked closely together to ensure that during this dark time in labor relations that no child’s safety is impacted. We have not lost sight of the most important thing we do, serve the students of Woonsocket.”

Mr. Partington went on to say, “We call upon the School Committee to request adequate funding from the City in future years to settle the current impasse created by the Mayor’s negotiating team. Once funding is in place, we can all get back to business as usual.”

                    

The Supreme Court will hear arguments today on former President Donald Trump's claim he has absolute immunity on charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 election. The outcome could determine whether Trump faces a federal trial this year on four felony counts brought by special counsel Jack Smith, which include conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and obstruction of an official proceeding.        The abortion issue was front and center in America on Wednesday. First, the U.S. Supreme Court heard a case is over whether Idaho's near-total abortion ban conflicts with a federal law requiring hospitals to provide patients emergency care. A decision is expected in June. Later in the day, Arizona's House of Representatives voted to repeal a Civil War-era abortion law that bans nearly all abortions, and the bill now heads to the state Senate.        The seven World Central Kitchen workers killed in Gaza will be honored this morning at Washington National Cathedral. The workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike on April 1st while bringing food aid to people in the war torn Palestinian territory.        The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is suing the Federal Trade Commission over its banning of noncompete agreements. The FTC voted Tuesday to block new noncompete agreements and require employers not to enforce current noncompetes, with an exception for senior executives. Business groups argue that these agreements are actually necessary to protect their intellectual property. They accuse the FTC of regulatory overreach.       A Beatles guitar that's been missing for over 50 years has been discovered in the attic of a British house. Julien's Auctions says the 12-string Hootenanny acoustic guitar is the same one John Lennon played on classics like "Norwegian Wood," and he can be seen playing the guitar in the movie "Help!" It will be going up for auction next month in New York City.        The road to the NBA Finals continued on Wednesday. The Miami Heat pulled off a 111-101 upset victory over the Boston Celtics in Game Two at TD Garden. Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder crushed the New Orleans Pelicans 124-92 at the Paycom Center.        

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