PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee and the Pittsfield Federation of School Employees Local 1315 have filed for mediation after failing to come to an agreement over the past year. 

 

The union, which represents support staff including bus drivers, cafeteria works and paraprofessionals, has been negotiating a new three-year collective bargaining agreement since last summer. The current agreement expired in August 2021.

 

Union members attended the School Committee's budget meeting on March 30 to push for better pay and working conditions. The union is asking that support staff be allocated more than $600,000 over the next three years for wage increases.

 

School Committee Vice Chair Daniel Elias, who chairs the negotiations subcommittee, said in a statement that "the School Committee has concluded that the assistance of a mediator at this stage of bargaining will help us reach a settlement that is both fair to our employees and cognizant of the committee's responsibilities over the three years we expect the final agreement to cover."

 

The mediation is being sought through the state's Department of Labor Relations.