Group wants court to settle teacher dispute
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Taxpayer Battle
The East Providence battle over who will hear the case of a teacher dispute rages.
The dispute over pay cuts for East Providence teachers continues as a group stages a rally outside the state Labor Relations Board.
Published: March 13, 2009
Updated: March 13, 2009
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I.—The ongoing dispute between teachers and administrators in East Providence has taken yet another turn.
The school committee filed a lawsuit in Superior Court on Thursday to keep the case from going before the state Labor Relations Board.
An East Providence community group rallied in support of the school committee on Friday.
The school committee in January unilaterally made the decision to roll back teachers salaries and require educators to pay a portion of their health care costs to help offset a budget deficit.
The teachers union said the action was unfair and a violation of state labor law. The union took its case to the state’s Labor Relations Board.
But a civic group called The East Providence Taxpayers Association said the labor board has no jurisdiction over the case. Members of the group held a small rally Friday outside the labor relations office in Cranston.
The group plans to present a 20-page petition to the labor board outlining why the board should step aside in the East Providence teacher dispute case.
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Reader Reactions
The overall value of petitions is limited. It is rare for anyone to refuse to sign one when it is presented by a supporter of the cause for which it is being presented. The 20 page petition will have as much impact as the five individuals and their misguided efforts.
I appreciate their ardor even if it is only 5 people. Their chance of success is as good as mine. I have a 20 page petition asking the fox to get out of the hen house.
Very impressive turnout - all five of them.
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