The City of Melrose and School Committee Reach Contract Agreement with Paraprofessionals

Mayor Paul Brodeur today announced the City of Melrose and Melrose School Committee have settled a three-year contract agreement with the Paraprofessionals (Unit C) for the period beginning July 1, 2022.

The comprehensive agreement substantially increases compensation for paraprofessionals through new pay scales, cost-of-living adjustments, and market adjustments. The tentative agreement also includes retroactive pay increases to the beginning of the school year, enhances additional training and professional development opportunities, and supports recruiting and retaining vital staff members who serve some of our most vulnerable students. 

The new contract also increases the paraprofessionals' workday, starting at the beginning of the next school year, to match the student day. The School Committee approved the agreement on December 20, 2022.

"The Committee was proud to support this agreement, which invests in our valued paraprofessionals and supports our students and our school district,” said School Committee Chair Jen McAndrew. “We thank the paraprofessionals and the Melrose Education Association for their collaboration on this three-year contract, and we look forward to continuing to work together on behalf of our schools."

In addition, during this calendar year, the City has settled three-year contracts with multiple unions, including the Melrose Police Patrol Officers Association (Patrol Unit); Internal Union of North America Local 272 (Laborers’ Unit); Melrose Association of City Hall Employees MA Laborers District Council (Clerical Unit); and the School Committee entered a three-year contract with the Melrose Traffic Supervisors Association (School Crossing Guards).

“I’m grateful to our partners in all of these bargaining units for coming to the table to negotiate fair contracts,” said Mayor Paul Brodeur. “The City and School Committee remain committed to reaching a fair and financially sustainable agreement with our teachers that meets the needs of our teachers and students, and that takes into consideration the City’s other financial needs.”

The City of Melrose files a copy of all executed collective bargaining agreements between City Units with the Department of Labor Relations and makes agreements available to the public once in effect.

To view the City’s available bargaining agreements, visit https://www.cityofmelrose.org/human-resources/pages/collective-bargaining-agreements, and to view the School District’s bargain agreements, visit https://www.melroseschools.com/district-home/staff/pages/collective-bargaining-agreements.