The chairman of the committee negotiating a new contract with education support professionals is disputing the union’s characterization of progress during current talks. School Committee Member Paul A. Magliocchetti, who chairs the negotiating subcommittee which also includes member Toni Sapienza Donais, said Sunday that not only does the full School Committee value the support staff, it has offered a three-year compensation package. The proposal “will restructure positions, provides for a pay schedule that reflects the skills and responsibilities of the employee, meets the hourly living wage set by the HEA president and results in a 25% increase in the salary account for this group.”
“Every member of the School Committee understands how dedicated these valuable employees are and has committed to making significant progress in upgrading the compensation for these employees,” Magliocchetti said in a statement. Magliocchetti called “absurd” a statement by Haverhill Education Association President Anthony J. Parolisi that they are being paid “poverty wages,” which federal guidelines place in the range of $6 per hour. Magliocchetti added, the School Committee voted unanimously to support the proposal presented by the subcommittee.