Striking teachers in 1 of 3 North Shore communities reach ‘tentative agreement’ to return to school

GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Striking teachers in one of three North Shore communities have reached a “tentative agreement” with the city to return to the classroom after 15 days on the picket line.

The Gloucester School Committee and the Union of Gloucester Educators have tentatively agreed on “successor collective bargaining agreements” for both the teachers and paraprofessional units, as well as a “satisfactory return to work” agreement, the union announced Friday afternoon in a Facebook post.

“We are pleased to announce that the strike is over and school will resume on Monday, Nov. 25,” the union stated in the announcement. “Further details about the scheduling of makeup days are forthcoming.”

The Massachusetts Teachers Association also provided a statement congratulating the Union of Gloucester Educators (UGE), commending their determination, “in the face of out-of-touch political leadership.”

“UGE mounted a righteous fight and earned the community’s support. The UGE not only fought for and secured better wages for paraprofessionals, but in doing so elevated for all to see the issue of poverty wages too often being paid to crucial educators in districts across the state.”

The Gloucester School Committee said they offered their last best offer to the union on Thursday.

The agreement in Gloucester comes after Superintendent Ben Lummis warned that canceled days would be made up during February or April vacation.

“In all my years in public education I never imagined that I would see a situation like this that would impact our students in such a serious way,” Lummis said. “I am so sorry for our children. I am so sorry for our families. You all deserve so much better than this.”

Teachers in Beverly and Marblehead have also been fighting for a new contract. Agreements haven’t been reached in those communities.

In a statement, Beverly School Committee Chair Rachael Abell congratulated the Gloucester teachers.

“The Beverly School Committee would like to congratulate our colleagues in the Gloucester Public Schools on finalizing new contracts this afternoon for their teachers and paraprofessionals,” Abell said.

In a release, Abell shared a recent proposal that was sent to the BTA, which includes 6 weeks of paid parental leave and family sick leave. The offer also includes a $3000 raise to tenured paraprofessionals for “their dedication to our children over many school years.”

Abell also called on the Beverly Teachers Association to back off of its “unyielding financial demands.”

“The offer we have put in front of the BTA puts us in a position to be next up for finalizing a deal if the union is willing to back off of its unyielding financial demands. In year four of our proposed contract, the highest-earning educator would make $124,281 in base wages and the highest-earning paraprofessional would make $42.77 per hour. We are urging the BTA to agree to our latest proposal so we can end this strike today and get our students back to school,” Abell said.

Beverly Superintendent Sue Charochak has warned of making up classes on vacation, as well as weekends, as the strike drags on.

Gloucester and Beverly educators first announced their work stoppage on Thursday, Nov. 7. In Marblehead, teachers voted to strike on Friday, Nov. 8.

New court orders came down Thursday from an Essex County superior judge on the fines the teachers’ unions have faced over the last week, which increased by $10,000 a day.

The judge suspended the fines for Friday to allow negotiations to continue without that burden, but the judge warned if no deal is reached by the end of the weekend, the fines would be back in place on Monday.

Teacher strikes are illegal in Massachusetts.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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