School Committee, Union Swap Bargaining Proposals
North Andover's school committee and its teaching assistants' union traded formal contract proposals without reaching a wage deal. The committee presented nine non-wage proposals touching sick leave, holiday pay and scheduling but offered no wage figure, prompting a union caucus.
School Committee · Meeting of August 24, 2026
North Andover's school committee and its teaching assistants' union traded formal contract proposals without reaching a wage deal. The committee presented nine non-wage proposals touching sick leave, holiday pay and scheduling but offered no wage figure, prompting a union caucus. MTA field representative Kevin Cierney then countered with a six-column, education-linked pay scale aimed at reaching a living wage of "just above $66,000" for Essex County, versus the current contract's $28,158-to-$48,158 range.
Cierney said "one job should be enough for the important work these people do," while calling the committee's proposals "a serious amount of givebacks." School Committee Vice Chair Kelly Cormier joined remotely. The sides meet again September 16 with the union promising "a comprehensive response" to the committee's package.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,153 words
Source: the School Committee meeting of August 24, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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