TAKE ACTION NOW
Dear Member of Local 1315,
As you know the District is moving to re-open the Pittsfield Public Schools. While we all want to be back at work helping to educate the children of Pittsfield, we should not be made to choose between returning to work and our own health and safety, or the health and safety of our familes. We've been in negotiations with representatives of the Administration over reopening now for several months. The fact that we do not have an agreement should tell you how this process has been handled. We made it clear to the District from the outset that our number one priority is the health and safety of our members and their families.
These negotiations have been frustrating. We've sat with members of the school department administration without participation from the anyone on the school committee. The administration claims they are concerned about our members ... but their actions say otherwise.
Starting in March 2020 the District threatened not to pay members of our Cafeteria Unit if they didn't agree to work on the grab-and-go meal program. Then they sent these Cafeteria folks into the building withoug face masks (even though we demanded it). In hindsight they unnecessarily put our members and their families at risk. Then after these folks busted their butts all summer to feed Pittsfield's neediest kids they were rewarded with the threat of layoffs by administrators looking to use the pandemic to make themselves look good.
When schools reopened in September - they directed members of the Custodial Unit to start spraying buildings with chemicals to disinfect surfaces without properly training them on how to mix these chemicals or dispense them in a safe way. The chemical disinfectant were being used in quantities and concentrations as never before, and without regard for people in their buildings with respiratory issues.
Later in the school year when the District went full remote due to increasing COVID cases they forced members of our Secretarial Unit to report to work in their buildings every day - even though their buildings were shuttered to the public - and during a time when the State was encouraging encouraged employers to let people work from home. Add to this administrators who refused to follow district protocols at work (more specifically they refused to wear their masks).
This same issue was also a problem for some of members of our Paraprofessional Unit. While in full remote most Paraprofessionals were allowed to work from home - at their election - just like the teachers in the UEP. But our Student Support Paraprofessionals (a small group of Paraprofessionals) were forced to report to work each day just because - with no real explanation based on facts or evidence. These people were forced to report to work in a school building when they could have done all of their work safely at home.
Bus Drivers and Monitors are being forced to transport kids who refuse to wear masks. Despite the fact that these students do not have a medical note as prescribed by the district's own protocols - nothing is being done to prevent the potential for unnecessary exposure. The response from the district has been - these are special needs students. This is simply unacceptable.
The district has so far refused to make reasonable options available to our most vulnerable members. Those who are most vulnerable to contracting COVID due to age or an underlying health concern. We asked for these folks to be allowed to work from home - but if that wasn't practical or possible - we asked that they be allowed to take a leave of absence and allowed to collect unemployment. The hang up here is allowing these folks to collect unemployment. District officials blame this on the city.
Finally and most insulting to our members is the District's constant attempts to nickel-and-dime our members. They've unilaterally altered hours and cut pay for duties and stipends that our members are entitled to, and they've used this issue to attempt to drive a wedge between our various groups. Paying one group for all their regularly scheduled hours - regardless of actual hours worked - and then treating other employee groups differently.
In addition we're learning that the District's claims about air quality issues in the buildings is not as they've presented to us.
Lastly is the issue of vaccinations for our members. We need to be a priority for the City just like the teachers in the UEP. A lot of our members are older and have underlying medical concerns.
We are not done! It doesn't matter whether your a Bus Driver or Bus Monitor, a Cafeteria Worker, a Custodian, a Paraprofessional, or a Secretary the issues of health and safety that we've been fighting for affect the students we serve and each of our families - directly or indirectly.
Members of the Pittsfield School Committee
[CLICK HERE TO E-MAIL THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE]
Members of the Pittsfield School Committee
[CLICK HERE FOR THE PHONE NUMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS]
The Virtual Meeting of the Pittsfield School Committee and MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
[CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING AND MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT]
WEDNESDAY - FEBRUARY 10, 2021 @ 5:00 PM
[CALL INTO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING AND MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT]
PHONE NUMBER
(872) 240-3212
ACCESS CODE
291-669-293
WE ARE PITTSFIELD. #WHATWEDOMATTERS!
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. PLEASE CALL AND E-MAIL MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE. DEMAND THAT THEY DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO SAFELY RE-OPEN THE PITTSFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS. DEMAND THAT THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS, OUR TEACHERS, OUR SUPPORT STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES IS NOT PUT AT RISK IN THEIR RUSH TO RE-OPEN THE PITTSFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Sincerely,
Sandi Amburn, President
Pittsfield Federation of School Employees