Judge rules against East Prov. teachers

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A Superior Court judge on Monday ruled in favor of the East Providence School Committee's decision to unilaterally slash teacher salaries and increase their health insurance co-pays.

Administrators issued the order last year in an effort to balance a $4 Million budget deficit.

The school committee argued it had the right to make the changes because the vast majority of teachers were working under an expired contract. Union leaders said the unilateral move violated their collective bargaining agreement.

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