Local

Woburn schools closed Thursday, teachers face large court fine as strike enters 4th day

WOBURN, Mass. — Woburn Public Schools will be closed on Thursday as the teachers’ strike continues. The Woburn Teachers Association and its president will face $40,000 in fines for not returning to the classroom.

School was canceled for more than 4,000 students in Woburn for the 3rd day on Wednesday as the teachers have been striking since Monday.

A court injunction order states that if the teacher’s strike continues past 7:30 p.m. Wednesday evening, the educators will face a fine of $40,000 on Thursday that will increase by $5,000 each day the strike continues. The judge also ordered that the fines be paid by 5 p.m. each day.

The Massachusetts Teachers’ Association has stated that the Woburn teachers are allowed to strike under a chapter of Massachusetts law.

“It is called Protected Concerted Activity and serves as the essential right of workers to seek mutual aid and support with fellow employees on wages and working conditions. This is true when MTA Vice President Deb McCarthy and I speak at rallies about contract negotiations or the right-to-strike legislation that the MTA has sponsored. These acts of solidarity are our foundational ethical and legal obligations as union leaders.”

The Woburn Teachers Association has said their main priority is securing a higher salary for paraprofessionals, who make about $22,000 a year.

“We have a deal on the table right now for the paraprofessionals, a first-year para, recognizing what the surrounding areas are paying, we’ve got a deal on the table that is in excess of 40% of what we pay them over three years,” said Woburn Mayor Scott Galvin. “We think that’s a very fair offer. A very good offer.”

Woburn Mayor Scott Galvin has said he had sat with the WTA more than 25 times over the past year and reached a signed agreement with the union in October, but union members rejected it. Galvin said the city offered a 10.75% raise over three years, but the WTA countered with 14.75% raises over the same period.

WTA President Barbara Locke said the union was willing to stay all night to negotiate, but yet again, the other side walked away from the bargaining table.

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