NEWTON, MA — Members of the Newton Teachers Association were out of the classrooms and back on the picket lines for a fourth straight school day on Wednesday as negotiators called the gap in contract proposals “a social justice issue” and the union faced a $100,000 fine if the illegal strike is not called off by 8 p.m.
The NTA said on Wednesday morning that a delegation of clergy would be going to Mayor Ruthanne Fuller’s office at 11 a.m. to deliver an open letter urging the mayor and School Committee to “release the funds necessary to adequately address the concerns raised by the Newton Teachers Association in the current negotiations.” Union membership also planned an early afternoon rally at the Newton Education Center.
(More on Patch: ‘Appalled At The Lack Of Progress’: Newton Teachers Strike Extended)
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“The hours spent bargaining since the strike began have not addressed the serious topics that need to be settled to end the strike,” the NTA said in a statement on Wednesday morning. “The NTA has been and remains prepared to bargain at any time and for any length of time to settle this contract.
“School Committee members were elected to help advocate for the needs of our schools, not defend the mayor’s grossly negligent approach to school funding. … Instead of working to secure the funds that will prioritize the welfare of Newton’s children, the School Committee and Mayor Fuller are threatening to cut teaching jobs, after dozens of positions were already cut the last two years.
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“As Rev. Cheryl Kerr said at yesterday’s rally, this contract fight has morphed from a budget issue into a social justice issue.”
The School Committee issued a statement Tuesday night saying that it had asked NTA membership to return to the classrooms pending further negotiations on a new contract and that the NTA declined.
“The School Committee had hoped to achieve progress today, and perhaps even agreement, on the key issue of Time and Learning, which addresses the structure of the school day. We were unable to achieve the progress for which we had hoped,” the School Committee said. “We understand that Newton students are counting on us. The School Committee and the union have to collectively start making progress.
“We will continue to do everything possible to get students back in the classroom, and we hope for a more productive session (Wednesday).”
A Middlesex Superior Court judge imposed fines that doubled each day of the strike starting at $25,000 on Monday. Strikes are illegal for public sector unions in Massachusetts.
The strike was declared amid a five-month contract impasse with the teachers calling for a new deal with pay increases, better paid parental leave, increased mental health support for students, and guaranteed time to prepare coursework and collaborate with colleagues.
Newton teachers voted Thursday afternoon to walk off the job effective last Friday morning after the union said 98 percent of its membership voted in favor of the strike.
Nolin said that all school buildings will be closed — with all school-related events canceled — for the duration of the strike.
Newton Public Schools offered “grab-and-go” breakfast and lunch pickup for students in need on Friday and Monday in a manner similar to the distribution during the COVID-19 health crisis.
All school days missed due to the strike will have to be made up at some point during this academic year.
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