MELROSE, Mass. — It’s the start of a “work-to-rule” action for teachers in Melrose. That’s when employees only do work that’s exactly in their contract and nothing more.
Teachers will continue to rally throughout the week at different schools in the district with their message but say their “work-to-rule” action won’t impact their students.
Teachers took to the streets marching and stopping traffic. It didn’t stop there. They also took their rally inside Melrose City Hall, briefly interrupting the city council meeting on Monday night.
Teachers say their contracts expired in June and now they are fighting for a new contract that includes better pay and adequate prep time to meet students’ needs.
Melrose School Committee chair, Jen McAndrew responded to Monday’s rally with a statement reading “I’m disappointed by the work-to-rule action and concerned about the potential impact on our school community. And, at the same time, the committee remains fully committed to working with the MEA to settle contracts for our teachers and paraprofessionals. We have made progress over the past several weeks, and I’m looking forward to our next negotiation session later this week.”
Teachers tell Boston 25 News they’re tired of having to fight for what they need.
“I think it is a constant battle of feeling like you want to be able to come in and do what you love and work with the kids, but knowing in the background that you have to come out here and do these kinds of things to get a living wage, to not have a second job like so many of us which takes away time from planning and grading outside of the classroom,” says Leslie Means, an English teacher.
Teachers say they will continue the “work-to-rule” action for as long as necessary.
It’s still to be determined if a strike will come next.
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