Students in Beverly and Marblehead, Massachusetts, will be heading back to school on Wednesday, after weeks of uncertainty due to teacher strikes.
In Marblehead, the School Committee announced late Tuesday that they had reached a tentative agreement with the local teachers’ union, the Marblehead Education Association. Later that evening, Beverly’s School Committee also shared they had come to a deal with the Beverly Teachers Association.
Both communities recognized the challenges the strikes caused for families and students. The Marblehead School Committee said in a statement, “We understand how stressful this has been for everyone, and we’re committed to making sure the reopening is a positive experience for everyone.” The Beverly School Committee expressed relief, saying, “We are so thankful that we’ve reached an agreement, and students will be back in school Wednesday, November 27. We regret that the strike impacted their education.”
In Marblehead, students will return to class Wednesday morning, but they’ll be released early. Both communities are excited to get back to work and welcome students back into the classroom.
At a press conference, a union representative shared a joint statement from the Marblehead teachers and the school committee. He said, “We’re grateful to return to our students and the amazing community support we’ve seen in the past few weeks. This contract helps address long-standing issues, like better pay, safety improvements, and parental leave.”
Teachers in Beverly, Gloucester, and Marblehead have been striking recently. Gloucester reached a deal last Friday, while Beverly’s strike became the longest in modern Massachusetts history.
On Tuesday, educators rallied at the State House, calling on Governor Maura Healey to help resolve the strikes. Andover teacher Holly Currier explained, “At this point, it feels like a power struggle. We want to make sure the state addresses this, because without laws protecting our right to strike, we could see more walkouts.”
Governor Healey urged everyone to come to a final agreement. “It’s time for this to be resolved,” she said. “The teachers should get back to school while the last details are worked out. Our kids need to be in school – let’s get this done.”
Beverly’s strike entered its twelfth day on Tuesday, making it the longest educator strike in the state’s modern history. Because both districts missed a court-ordered deadline, the school committee has stopped negotiating. A fact-finding process is ongoing, and a hearing is set for next week. Unfortunately, this could mean more time lost for students who have already missed nearly two weeks of school.
Teachers’ pay has also been cut during the strike, which has sparked frustration. Beverly Teachers Association co-president Julia Brotherton said, “Cutting our pay right before Thanksgiving is a clear attempt to pressure us back to work without fair wages for everyone, including our support staff.”
Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill acknowledged the tough situation, saying, “No one wants to withhold pay, but we’re left with no choice.”
Over the weekend, things got heated in Marblehead when two school committee members were chased to their cars by upset parents and teachers.
Now that tentative agreements have been reached, the focus is on getting students back into the classroom and moving forward.
