Three teachers strikes along North Shore dangle over coming school week as negotiations stall

Strikes in three North Shore towns came closer to interrupting the next school week as negotiations continued to stall Sunday.

Beverly and Gloucester teachers unions declared strikes on Thursday, leading to cancelled classes on Friday in both districts. Marblehead educators voted to strike on Friday.

All three unions said they have engaged in months of negotiations to no avail, citing priorities including competitive wage increase, upped paid family leave and other benefits, and high turnover.

As of 5 p.m. Sunday, Gloucester educators said the school committee “continues to reject our counter-proposal offers.”

The Gloucester School Committee Chair Kathleen Clancy said the sides continued to negotiate Sunday with a mediator and a court issued an injunction ordering the educators to return to work on Saturday. Clancy said the committee is concerned for parents scrambling for childcare and students who rely on school services.

“Our message to the parents is we remain committed,” said Clancy. “We value our teachers, and we have to come to an agreement that fits within what city can afford.”

The Beverly teachers gave a live update Sunday night, saying they are continuing to negotiate and highlighting the needs of paraprofessionals in the district. At the end of the contract the school committee has proposed, the union representatives stated, paraprofessionals would only make $28,500.

The Marblehead Education Association said the School Committee “refused to negotiate” on Sunday and they filed an unfair labor practice charge with the state’s Department of Labor claiming they failed the obligation to “bargain in good faith.” The Marblehead negotiations are being overseen by a state-appointed mediator.

“We are trying everything possible to settle a fair contract with all five MEA bargaining units by Monday night,” said MEA President Jonathan Heller. “The kids need to be in school, but we also need to address the serious issues thrusting our schools into crisis.”

The Boston Teachers Union released a statement of support for the educators on strike over the weekend.

“Their fight is also ours—a fight for fair conditions, proper funding, and the dignity our students and educators deserve,” the BTU said in a statement.

Negotiations in the three districts are set to resume on Monday.