Teachers’ union asks North Attleboro School Committee for public support in contract talks

Bob Collins, representing the North Attleboro Federation of Teachers (NAFT), asked the school committee on Sept. 9 to publicly support a “fair and equitable contract” that includes competitive pay, humane sick‑leave benefits and working‑condition protections.

"We, the North Attleboro Federation of Teachers, are writing to ask for your express support for a fair contract for teachers that includes competitive pay, benefits, working conditions," Collins said, reading the union’s membership letter and noting the union solicited feedback from “hundreds of members.”

Collins said North Attleboro teacher compensation lags neighboring districts, producing vacancies and turnover that harm students through larger class sizes and fewer course offerings. He urged the committee to work with negotiators to retain staff and to help the district avoid losing educators to higher‑paying districts.

The union representative also asked the committee to attend a public rally on Sept. 17 planned to coincide with a scheduled bargaining session. "We are holding a rally next week for education on September 17 before the bargaining session planned for that day," Collins said, and extended invitations to district leaders.

Committee members listened and asked clarifying questions during the presentation; no formal committee action was taken at the meeting on the contract itself. Several members acknowledged the staffing pressures the district faces and thanked Collins for outlining NAFT’s priorities.

The committee’s next steps on bargaining—whether to issue a formal public statement or take specific positions—were not decided on Sept. 9.