HAVERHILL, Ma---No deal reached for hundreds of teachers in the Haverhill School District. After days of negotiations, they won’t be returning to the classroom.
8,000 students won’t be at school come Monday. It will mark day one of the teachers strike as they continue to fight for more funding for the schools and more money for themselves.
Emotions got heated between Haverhill teachers and district officials.
“Come talk to us!” said teachers.
Teachers are demanding better pay and working conditions before returning to school.
“It’s so much more than fair compensation, although that is a big part of it. We’re making less than 10% below the state average. We’re professionals with masters plus degrees and we’re not getting paid enough. Understaffed, overworked,” says a teacher.
Representatives for the district addressed teachers directly saying, “If this strike happens tomorrow, there is going to be an impact on a lot of our families that can’t get nourishment unless we provide lunches.”
According to the teacher’s union, employees received an email from the superintendent warning “Those who do not report to their assigned workplace will not be paid for the day and may face disciplinary action measures.” Still teachers tell Boston 25 News that won’t stop them from striking.
“In our schools, our class sizes are too large, our staff is underpaid, our students don’t get the one-on-one help that they need if it is in their IEP’s. What I would like to see most from this is the city realizing they need to invest in public education and fully fund our public schools,” says Barry Davis, Haverill Education Association Vice President.
In response to tomorrow’s strike, the district released a statement reading in part “The school committee and the Massachusetts State Board are asking a Salem superior court judge to issue an injunction against the union for its illegal strike which would have a devastating effect on the students and families in Haverill.”
Negotiations start again Monday morning at 8:00 a.m.
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