Gloucester Teachers Association Negotiations

The School Committee will approach negotiations with the mindset that, first and foremost, the primary purpose of our schools, all staff, and the School Committee is to work together in ways that result in more engaged student learning, higher academic achievement and deeper student belonging. Our collective bargaining agreement needs to fully support this primary purpose.

Below are the Committee’s goals for how we hope both negotiation teams will work together during negotiation and what we will achieve together during the course of negotiations. 

Process Goals

• Both negotiating teams will seek understanding about the core concerns behind the proposals by listening closely to each other.

• By building trust through listening to and learning from each other about underlying concerns, the teams will work together to find multiple options that improve student learning and support staff. 

• Both teams understand and acknowledge that all proposals are put forth in good faith with positive intentions and typically need to be modified and improved upon during the negotiation process.

• Both teams actively work to separate the people from the problems and challenges we face together - meaning attacks on the integrity of anyone’s character, intent, or experience are out of bounds and unacceptable to both sides.

Outcome Goals

• The Gloucester Public Schools’ strong, collaborative culture remains intact and that we can continue to move forward to create even better outcomes for our City’s students.

• Through the process of reaching a successor agreement we build trust and improve the relationship between the School Committee and the GTA.

• Create an agreement that helps to strengthen student learning, meets the interests of both parties to the extent possible, and takes community interests into account.

• The teams reach agreement on a successor contract by September 1, 2024.