Educators Declare Contract Impasse and Demand Real Solutions for Students and Community

New Haven — Teachers in New Haven Public Schools called on city leaders Tuesday to resolve the teaching and learning crisis facing their students and families, on the eve of the legally-imposed deadline for a mutual settlement before the matter is referred to arbitration. .

The certified educators and members of the labor-community coalition held a press conference at City Hall to urge Mayor Justin Elicker to embrace the real solutions they’ve proposed for what union members and students need in contract negotiations.

Leaders of the New Haven Federation of Teachers (NHFT) have since late-September been in talks with district representatives to secure a new contract. For months, they have put forward numerous proposals to improve their students’ learning conditions by addressing the root causes of educator recruitment and retention shortfalls.

Many are still outstanding, forcing union leaders to declare impasse, noting that if the mayor does not direct school board representatives to reach a mutual settlement on the outstanding issues by Wednesday evening, a neutral, third-party arbitrator decides the final outcome.

In addition to refusing union members’ reasonable proposals for class sizes, special education supports, healthcare and salaries, city leaders are failing to meet the moment, said the New Haven Federation of Teachers.

The union emphasized that “After months of negotiations, the city leadership's inflexibility threatens to drive hundreds of hardworking educators out of the Elm City’s classrooms and deprive students of the learning opportunities they deserve.”

Tuesday’s impasse announcement follows months of active engagement by hundreds of educators, as well as their students and families, in support of securing a fair, honorable contract. These efforts to boost investments in New Haven public schools’ future by improving student learning have taken place while the city’s fund balance has exceeded $59 million. 

The previous week during public comment at the Board of Education meeting, speakers said prioritizing public education must include investments from the City of New Haven alongside continuing pressure to increase state funding. Speakers also emphasized that Yale University has a $44 billion endowment and should be expected to contribute in lieu of taxes enough funds to assure world class public education in New Haven.