The local 251 chapter of the Teamsters, a union representing 62 Rhode Island School of Design custodians, groundskeepers and movers, met with RISD administrators on April 13 to continue contract negotiations amid an ongoing strike. 

The Teamsters, the workers and the school all say talks were productive, and signs point to negotiations wrapping up early next week, which could mark the end of the strike. 

The workers have been on strike since April 3, because of labor violations amid contract negotiations. Until Thursday, the groups appeared to be at a standstill on the issue of wages – with the union asking for the minimum wage to be raised to at least $20 per hour, and the school not budging. The school’s minimum wage for this class of workers sits at $13.95 per hour. 

Now, contract negotiations appear to be flowing once more.

“We presented a proposal that is very much in line with what the bargaining unit has expressed would be a fair and reasonable resolution to this negotiation,” wrote a spokesperson for the school in an emailed statement. 

Bargaining committee member Regina Santos is a RISD custodian who has been working at the school for 10 years. She is one of the many who are making less money when adjusted for inflation than when they started. Her salary started at about $13 per hour and is now at $15.65 per hour. She said the school’s newest proposal was more promising. 

“I do feel good,” Santos said. “I think we make a good process. They’re coming with the wages. That’s the first time they come with the wages.”

Tony Suazo, the Teamsters union representative for the workers, said the group will take the weekend to sleep on it. 

“We need to do some more thinking collectively,” Suazo said. “We’re not quite at the finish line, but we’re making good strides to get there. They made a good effort.”

The two parties are tentatively scheduled to meet again on Monday.

Meanwhile, the picket line will remain up in front of administrative offices – and the giant pig balloon, with his Tammany Hall-esque garb and a fat cigar jammed between his balloon lips, will remain inflated during working hours. 

Metro Reporter Olivia Ebertz can be reached at olivia@thepublicsradio.org. Follow her on Twitter @oliviaebertz.

Olivia Ebertz comes to The Public’s Radio from WNYC, where she was a producer for Morning Edition. Prior to that, she spent two years reporting for KYUK in Bethel, Alaska, where she wrote a lot about...