“Strength in numbers” is a central principle of our labor movement because it is consistently proven true in the workplace and at the negotiating table. Leaders of an AFT Connecticut-affiliated local paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRP) union realized its promise with a landmark agreement secured after nearly doubling the size of their membership. Unprecedented gains made by hundreds of their colleagues who recently organized to join their ranks are showcased in our latest collective bargaining wins report.
In the summer of 2023, leaders of our West Hartford Federation of Education Personnel welcomed the school district’s teacher assistants (TAs) and student aides into their union. After securing an agreement with the board of education to voluntarily recognize the expanded bargaining unit, they began negotiating first-ever contractual raises and benefits for their 200 new members.
With the guidance of AFT Connecticut Field Representative Caid Murray, they achieved a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with district officials earlier this year. The new members ratified the package, entitling them to protections outlined in the local union’s existing contract – due process rights, fair evaluations, transfer rights and job security – they previously lacked.
Click here for a previous report spotlighting the local union’s collective bargaining agreement.
“Being union means we are no longer invisible,” said Norah Lailberte (left, in middle photo, above) a one-on-one TA at Conard High School and a member of the local union’s expanded bargaining team. “It’s gratifying to be finally recognized for our work,” she added.
The MOA also provides new members two annual wage increases, with the first retroactive to last July, as well as defined job and salary categories. Additionally, they will now benefit from paid holidays and sick days, as well as an attendance bonus and stipends for temporarily assuming higher-level job duties.
“This kind of achievement reflects the hard work, solidarity and deep commitment to equity in the workplace,” said special education para and local president Danelia Brown (right, in middle photo). “It is not just a win on paper but it shows that our colleagues matter and the work they do deserves real compensation.”
Click here for our announcement of the MOA featuring a collage of new members casting their votes of support.
Having won guaranteed annual raises, paid leave and a voice on the job, our newest members – and their veteran leaders – are now looking ahead to the local union’s next objective. They’re already planning to put their greater “strength in numbers” towards its accomplishment.
“I plan to continue to spread the great news to our building TAs, garner more support for the union and be a part of the next bargaining process,” said Lailberte.
Brown said, “we’ve got contract negotiations coming up for the next school year, and this time, we’re showing up stronger. With TAs and student aides now officially part of the team, our numbers – and our power are growing. Together, we’re building real momentum,” she added.
Click here for press coverage of the formal vote in February by district officials to adopt the MOA.
Eight additional collective bargaining wins and an arbitration decision have been announced since our previous quarterly report in January. Four additional local union contract agreements and a memorandum of understanding not yet finalized or announced are tentatively planned for the next update.
Click here for a graphic announcing our EastCONN unions secured an agreement to enter the Connecticut Partnership Plan.
Click here for a collage celebrating a new collective bargaining agreement for our Hartford Federation of Paraeducators.
Click here for the announcement of the new contract secured by our Hartford Federation of Special Police Officers.
Click here for a photo of Hartford Federation of Secretaries’ leaders celebrating final approval of their new agreement.
Click here for the announcement of our Manchester Memorial Hospital Nurses’ agreement to extend their current contract.
Click here for a photo of our CHS United leaders gathering to celebrate their new collective bargaining agreement.
Click here for a collage of photographs of our Windham Federation of Teachers’ ratifying their new contract.
Click here for the announcement of our New Britain Federation of Education Personnel’s first ever collective bargaining agreement.
