BOSTON — Two of the three teacher unions currently on strike in Massachusetts have faced daily fines for their decision to not return to work.
On Tuesday, judges assigned penalties of $50,000 per day to the teacher unions from Beverly and Gloucester, which will escalate by an additional $10,000 every day that they continue their strike. The unions voted on November 7 to initiate the strike, which led to school closures beginning Friday, and the educational institutions in these areas remain shut down.
In a third district, Marblehead, union members also voted to strike on Tuesday, and the matter was taken to court on Wednesday. This district may also face similar financial penalties.
Strikes among teachers are infrequent in Massachusetts, largely due to state regulations that prohibit public sector employees from walking off their jobs.
The Beverly Teachers Association has voiced their demands for a reduction in class sizes within the district, which serves approximately 4,500 students. Their proposals also include 12 weeks of paid parental leave and raising the starting salary for paraprofessionals and teacher assistants—currently at $20,000—to a “living wage.”
Meanwhile, the Gloucester union, representing around 2,800 students, is advocating for eight weeks of fully paid parental leave, two weeks at 75% pay, and another two weeks at 50%. Additionally, they seek substantial salary increases for paraprofessionals, improved safety measures for students, and more preparation time for elementary school educators.
The last instance of a teachers’ strike in Massachusetts occurred earlier this year in Newton, a suburb of Boston. That situation culminated after an 11-day strike ended when both parties reached an agreement.
This Newton strike marked the sixth teachers’ strike in Massachusetts since 2022, making it the longest. The resolution included a cost-of-living salary boost of approximately 13% over four years for teachers, wage increases for classroom aides, and provisions for 40 days of fully paid family leave.