HOLYOKE, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - A new tension is brewing in the Holyoke school contract battle: the threat of losing back pay. While Mayor Joshua Garcia said a “meaningful” proposal is on the table, teachers said the district is holding their hard-earned money over their heads.

Teachers have been working under an old contract all year. “Retroactive pay” is the money they would be owed once a new, higher-paying contract is finally signed — covering the work they’ve already done since August. But union leaders say the school committee is now considering moving that set-aside money to other district projects.

“It would mean that if that goes through, then we would run the risk of not getting retroactive pay for this year. And it’s pretty frustrating, honestly, they’re choosing actively to do this,” said Holyoke Teachers Association President Nick Cream.

Mayor Garcia encouraged union leadership to bring the current proposal to a full membership vote, calling it the “best path forward.” However, the union feels the district is using the June 30th budget deadline as a “ticking clock” to force them into a deal they aren’t ready to sign. Western Mass News will be there Friday as teachers hold a “call to action.” The picket starts at 3:30 p.m. Friday at 57 Suffolk Street, followed by the International Workers’ Day Rally at 4:30 p.m.

If the school committee votes to move that money on May 11th, is that money gone for good?

That is the big fear, the union said the district has until June 30th to spend that money, but by moving it to the finance subcommittee now, it puts immense pressure on teachers to settle before they lose out on thousands of dollars in back pay.