ANDOVER, Mass — The teacher’s strike in Andover will extend into the weekend.
Although the Andover Education Association and the School Committee met for eight hours, a deal was not reached Friday, a union spokesperson told Boston 25 News.
“Our strike vote has initiated the kind of bargaining we have wanted for months. We have a lot of ground to cover, but both sides are talking and that is because the community has voiced its support for what educators are fighting for,” the Andover Education Association said in a statement.
The School Committee has enhanced its paid parental leave proposal, which now includes 11 weeks of paid leave for all parents who welcome a child, through a combination of district-funded leave and accrued sick days.
The School Committee’s proposal makes this benefit available to both parents if both are district employees.
The School Committee also agreed to an increase in sick time for instructional assistants, bringing the total number of available days to 15.
“The School Committee remains committed to negotiating in good faith and looks forward to the AEA’s response to its proposal. In the meantime, we once again call on the AEA to end this illegal strike so we can bring our students back to the classroom,” the Andover School Committee said in a statement.
Educators worked the picket lines outside Andover schools Friday, calling for pay raises, protections for educator preparation time, longer lunch and recess periods and access to paid family and medical leave.
Andover Schools will be closed through the duration of the teacher strike, according to Andover School Committee Chair Tracey Spruce.
“It could be a couple days it could be a couple weeks we don’t know,” said Donna Ballou, an Andover parent.
Andover parents got reverse robocalls and emails letting them know that although school was canceled Friday, athletics will be continuing for now.
The two sides are expected to return to the negotiation table at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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