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A large group of teachers and their supporters gathered in front of Bell Oaks School this afternoon in advance of the mediation meeting that was scheduled to take place at 3:30 p.m. Holding signs as they stood on Bell Road, the group showed solidarity by wearing red shirts.
Bellmawr’s teachers have been working without a contract since June 30.
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Following last night’s Board of Education (BOE) meeting, Board Member, Eric Hoban provided an updated on the teachers’ contract by stating that negotiations are at an impasse and that a second mediation was scheduled.
This afternoon teacher, Ed Beail spoke on behalf of the Bellmawr Education Association (BEA) and said that since the teachers’ contract ran out on June 30 “we’ve been fighting for a contract for awhile. There has been no movement whatsoever.”
With school starting in less than two weeks, Beail said: “We are all excited to get back to school. We all want to be with the kids. That’s what we are here for. We will not desert them.”
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2 replies on “Bellmawr’s Teachers’ Contract at Impasse; Teachers Gather to Show Support”
The statement that teachers are working without a contract is incorrect. They continue to work under the provisions of the expired contract. They are paid, maintain benefits etc.
They are working without a contract. Although the provisions of the last contract carry over, that is only a courtesy agreement that is maintained by both parties. It doesn’t have to be as in the case with our current contract. The contract expired, which led the governor to freeze everything until a new contract is agreed upon. Just because the parties honor the old contract while waiting for a new one to be sign does not mean that they have a contract.