One of three Massachusetts communities reached a deal with their striking teachers union on Friday, leaving two left to hammer out a final agreement as Gov. Maura Healey says all students need to be back in school Monday.
The Union of Gloucester Educators said in a Facebook post that the union and the Gloucester School Committee “came to a tentative agreement for successor collective bargaining agreements for both the teachers and paraprofessional units, as well as a satisfactory Return to Work Agreement.”
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School will resume there on Monday, and now the state is putting pressure on Beverly and Marblehead to do the same.
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Healey said earlier this week that her focus is getting students back into the classroom, urging both parties to reach an agreement as soon as possible.
The strikes have kept thousands of students across the three communities north of Boston at home and will force schools to hold classes during vacations and weekends to meet the required 180 days of classroom learning required by state law — a situation that any snow days could make worse.
In a new statement released Saturday, Healey said it's "unacceptable" that students have been out of school for over two weeks in Beverly and Marblehead.
"It's hurting our young people, parents and families above all else. Students need to be back in school on Monday," the governor said. "I have spoken to all parties, and I believe they are at a place where they should be able to reach an agreement this weekend, and they should do so. If they don’t reach that agreement, they should ensure that students can return to the classroom on Monday while these negotiations continue."
Healey reiterated that the parties must continue to negotiate throughout the weekend, saying that she and the lieutenant governor have been and will continue to request updates.
"Our young people need to be back in school," she said.
Co-president of the Marblehead Education Association, Jonathan Heller, said they agree with the governor.
“We want students back in school," Heller said. "It is now up to the school committee.”
“The quickest way back to schools is a settled contract,” said Andrea Sherman, co-president of the Beverly Teachers Association.
Meanwhile, Kimberley Coelho, a member of the Beverly School Committee, spoke out on social media Saturday saying some of her own colleagues seem more focused on breaking the teachers spirits than finding common ground.
Teachers in Beverly said Thursday that they have reduced their wage proposals, but accused town officials of dragging out the negotiations. Union representatives said they were willing to keep talks going around the clock if necessary.
“The inaction of the school committee is why schools are closed. We are really trying to bargain here. We all want to go back to school," Sherman said Thursday evening.
Rachael Abell, president of the Beverly School Committee, pointed to the unions for the extended negotiations, saying they rejected an offer to add nearly $2 million for teacher and paraprofessional salaries.
“The union spent very little time reviewing and then essentially insisted on their initial demands, which are way beyond what is affordable to the city,” she said after Thursday's negotiations.
The Beverly Teachers Association has said it is pushing 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.
In her Facebook post Saturday, Coelho called the process "disgusting," saying in part, "What is abundantly clear is some do not want to settle a contract. Instead, feel more concerned about breaking the union’s spirits and dividing our community. I feel the legal advice of our counsel is wrong and only delays reopening schools.”
Sherman said it's "validating" to the teachers to hear that.
"I’m so grateful people on the school committee are finding the courage to use their voices,” Sherman said.
Beverly teachers have been court-ordered to begin the Department of Labor's fact-finding process if they don't reach a deal by Sunday evening -- that's the next step when a state mediator can't help both sides reach an agreement. And teachers say that takes longer.
“Not only are our recent proposals affordable, the cost of both contracts combined is $1M less than what the school committee proposed in their last offer,” Sherman said.
Teachers in both communities are asking their school committees to show their math.
"Where are you getting your numbers because we can’t work together until we know where your proposals are based on.”
“It’s something I have to ask my students you know show me your math so we’re asking that of them,” said Beverly paraprofessional Paul Drake.
Teacher strikes are illegal in Massachusetts.
An Essex County Superior Court judge pledged to waive mounting fees against striking teachers for Friday if they agreed to return to the classroom by Monday. If there is no deal by 6 p.m. Sunday, a third party will take over the talks between striking teachers and local officials -- that could mean four to six more days with no school in Beverly.
