BOSTON (AP) — Two Massachusetts communities, Marblehead and Beverly, struck deals with their striking teachers union Tuesday, effectively ending the last of three teachers strikes in communities north of Boston, bringing relief to students, families, and educators.
The Marblehead School Committee and the Marblehead Education Association jointly announced that they reached comprehensive tentative agreements, paving the way for employees to return to work and schools to reopen on Wednesday, which is an early release day for students ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, allowing for a smooth transition.
“Both the School Committee and the Association acknowledge the immense stress and hardship caused to our students and families during the school closures and are committed to ensuring that the reopening of our schools will be a positive experience for our students and school community,” officials said in a statement, emphasizing their shared commitment to the well-being of students and staff.
In Beverly, School Committee Chair Rachael Abell stated on Tuesday that the committee and the Beverly Teachers Association had reached a tentative agreement, allowing students to return to school on Wednesday, marking the end of a prolonged period of disruption.
“We deeply regret that their education was negatively impacted by the union’s strike, which had far-reaching consequences for the community,” Abell said, adding that the agreement includes significant compensation and necessary improvements “that will give our hardworking educators the support they need to perfect their professional practice and, in turn, help our students thrive in a supportive learning environment.”
On Friday, the Union of Gloucester Educators announced on Facebook that it had reached a tentative agreement with the Gloucester School Committee for “successor collective bargaining agreements for both the teachers and paraprofessional units,” setting the stage for a return to normalcy in the district.
Classrooms had remained shuttered in Beverly, Gloucester, and Marblehead since the strikes began, marking the end of the second full week that teachers had taken to the picket lines, resulting in a prolonged period of uncertainty for students, families, and educators.
The unions had voted Nov. 7 to authorize the strikes, which will necessitate holding classes during vacations and weekends to meet the required 180 days of classroom learning required by state law, adding an extra layer of complexity to the academic calendar – a situation that any snow days could exacerbate, further disrupting the school year.
The Beverly Teachers Association had pushed for smaller class sizes in the 4,500-student district, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and a “living wage” for paraprofessionals or teachers assistants, whose starting salary is $20,000, highlighting the need for fair compensation and better working conditions.
In Gloucester, the union in the 2,800-student district had asked for at least eight weeks of fully paid parental leave, significant pay increases for paraprofessionals, safer conditions for students, and more prep time for elementary school teachers, emphasizing the need for improved working conditions and increased support for educators.
As a result of the strikes, judges imposed a fine of $50,000 on the unions in Beverly and Gloucester, which would increase by $10,000 for every day teachers remained on strike, adding financial pressure to the unions.
Last week, teachers took their protests to the steps of the Massachusetts Statehouse, demonstrating their determination to push for better working conditions, fair compensation, and increased support for educators.
Gov. Maura Healey emphasized her focus on getting students back into the classroom, urging both parties to reach an agreement as soon as possible for the good of our kids, families, educators, and staff, underlining the urgency of the situation.
