Winthrop teachers union offers four-year comprehensive contract package to School Committee

WINTHROP — March 4, 2026 — Winthrop's teachers union presented a comprehensive four-year contract settlement package covering all four bargaining units at a March 4 School Committee meeting. The Winthrop Education Association, at its 17th bargaining session since May 2025, proposed annual wage increases ranging from 3 percent for early-career employees to 5 percent for veterans at the top of each salary scale, with the total over four years estimated at roughly 19 to 20 percent — down from an earlier three-year proposal of 23 percent. A regional wage comparison showed that under the committee's last offer, educational support professionals would finish a contract period 54 percent below the average of comparable neighboring districts; the union said its target minimum ESP salary is $35,000 per year. The package also proposes 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave for all employees, a freeze on current class sizes for the life of the agreement, and a $2,000 differential for staff absorbing special education caseloads during vacancies of up to 60 school days. Union representatives warned that if the committee does not respond to the package holistically — rather than unit by unit — all movement in the proposal reverts to pre-package positions. The parties tentatively scheduled follow-up meetings for March 18 and March 25.