Teachers Demand Contract, Picket BOE Office

More than a hundred Montville Township Education Association (MTEA) members dressed in red lined the property of the board of education office Thursday in a demonstration urging board members to settle their contract.

MTEA Officer Anne Simon said the members were at the office, on River Road, to "greet" the state-appointed mediator who was scheduled to meet with board members and union representatives Thursday evening.

"What's happening today is we're here to greet the mediator since, unfortunately, we haven't been able to reach an agreement with the board," she said.

Simon said the members, who include teachers, secretaries, custodians and more, have been working under an expired contract for one year.

"We're hoping that our support and our presence here let's the mediator know that we are supporting our negotiating team," Simon said.

While the mediator was scheduled to meet with both parties, Simon said she was not sure whether a decision would be reached Thursday.

"We woud like this settled as quickly and as fairly as possible," she said.

Superintendent Dr. Paul Fried was not immediately available for comment.

Montville Patch will have updates on this story.