Chelmsford Teacher Contract Talks Get Heated

CHELMSFORD (CBS) -Contract talks between the Chelmsford teachers' union and the School Committee are getting a little heated.

After going without a contract for more than a year and a half, it was disclosed that the union wanted a 15 percent pay  raise on top of the regular step increases.

That angered the president of the Chelmsford Federation of Teachers.  Kathryn Chamberlain said there had been a signed agreement not to speak publicly about the negotiations, and blamed school committee chairwoman Kathy Duffett for the leak. She also said the 15 percent figure is inaccurate.

 Chelmsford Federation of Teachers President Kathryn Chamberlain

Kathy Duffett, Chairwoman  of the School Committee

Duffett said she was speaking for the school committee when she disclosed details of the negotiations, and she stands by the 15 percent. 

"The offer that the teachers' union has put forth, that they are standing firm, does total 15 percent salary increase," Duffett said. "That is an accurate assessement." And, she says, it's a figure the town can not afford.

The next negotiation session is scheduled for November 22.