Groton teaching assistants join paraprofessional union

Groton - Classroom assistants and tutors in Groton voted Friday to unionize, joining CSEA/SEIU Local 2001, which already represents paraprofessionals in the district.

"They'll have a seat at the table, in having a say in the working conditions and the quality of the education of the students," said Matt O'Connor, a union spokesman. "They'll be recognized as a permanent and integral part of the school system."

Of the 160 classroom assistants and tutors who voted Friday, 86 percent chose to unionize. At the end of the last school year, there were 56 paraprofessionals contracted with Groton Public Schools, were part of the union.

"We all love working with kids and that's why we do our jobs," said Debbi Miller, who works at Pleasant Valley Elementary School. "But it makes us a lot easier to do our jobs when we have the respect and resources that we need."

O'Connor said that the union plans to meet with the Groton Board of Education to negotiate a contract for the newly unionized employees. The union hopes the school district will approve an amendment to the existing paraprofessional contract, which expires in 2012, and extend some of that contract's benefits to its newest members.

"We now need to bring the salary and other working benefits into this group," O'Connor said. "And that's going to require some negotiations about seniority, benefits and salary."

Superintendent of Schools Paul Kadri declined to comment, saying the Board of Education handles union issues. Board of Education chair Beverly Washington could not be reached for comment.