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.