The Elizabeth Education Association (EEA) knows a thing or two about adversity. The 3,770-member local of an urban school district meets with its fair share of challenges on a daily basis. Like their peers in similar school settings, EEA members wrestle with navigating a post-pandemic world while tirelessly working to close the achievement gap, struggling for adequate supplies and watching their colleagues leave the district for employment elsewhere as the pressure continues to mount.
Unlike most of their peers, though, EEA members also must contend with a level of political overreach in their current contract negotiations that have no place in employer-employee relations. In late summer, Elizabeth mayor Chris Bollwage decided to enter the debate. Upon learning that negotiations were at an impasse, Bollwage took to social media to erroneously report that the EEA intends to strike and that “anyone who participates will never receive a promotion.”
The EEA swiftly issued a legal response, chastising the mayor for his comments and his insinuation that he can affect district employment. However, this incident laid bare the decades-long battle between elected officials and union leaders on political interference in the city’s schools. Despite this, the EEA remains steadfast in its goal: to demand respect for the work they do and the vital role they play in the Elizabeth Public School District’s success.
“This is more than just a bargaining crisis,” declared EEA President John Griffin. “This is about the future of Elizabeth’s public schools.”
For weeks, EEA members have been diligently standing outside their school buildings, holding signs and sharing their stories. They know the ongoing bargaining crisis and the Board’s unwillingness to increase its salary offers to attract and retain high quality educators and school employees simply exacerbates the educator shortage felt state and nationwide. For many, it is yet another example of disrespect they feel erodes the education profession.
“It’s incredibly frustrating that we’ve reached this point, there’s no question,” Griffin continued. “But to know that many of our Board members are also union members in some capacity and are still unwilling to find compromise in these challenges times and find solutions to our district’s issues, well…it’s just unacceptable.”
Elizabeth’s students rarely have opportunities to participate in art, music or other specials, and access to computer classes has been eliminated. Many teachers throughout the district have lost prep periods, as they are often called to cover classes to make up for those without permanent teachers in place. Additionally, all K-8 teachers have increased student contact time—without extra compensation— because of a schedule change, which, for many has greatly contributed to the burnout problem that the EEA is looking to address in this round of negotiations as well.
“It’s time to build a better Elizabeth and elevate the educational experience for all,” Griffin stated. “A contract settlement is the first step.”
