Hundreds of Rye Neck teachers plan to sport matching black outfits on the first day of school Wednesday to symbolize their unity in their battle for a new contract.

The teachers spent their summer butting heads with the Rye Neck Union Free School District over a new contract. The old contract expired at the end of June.

The teachers and their negotiating team say they don?t like the way they?re being treated. They say the new contract they want isn?t about money ? it?s about being treated fairly.

?I believe the district is trying to position that this is all about financial things,? Teachers Association President Nick Pagliuca says. ?It?s not. It?s about the way we?re being treated.?

According to Pagliuca, the teachers are being cheated because they?re being forced to work mandatory overtime. He also wants the teachers to be paid for any unused sick days they have.

Some Rye Neck students say they think seeing all their teachers in black would be a strange sight. ?It wouldn?t affect learning, but I?d notice,? a student says. The decision to wear all black hasn?t been finalized.

Rye Neck schools did not comment on the negotiations. However, it?s not the only district at impasse with its teacher unions ? Hendrick, Hudson, Rye and Boces are currently in contract negotiations as well.