BEVERLY, MASS. (WHDH) - Educators in Gloucester entered their 14th day on strike Thursday – with students missing nine days of school thus far.
“I grew up in this city and I expect better from this city for this city,” said Rich Francis from the Union of Gloucester Educators. “We still believe in this righteous fight.”
Gloucester’s superintendent of schools announced the missed days will need to be made up, writing “the union’s illegal labor action has already erased portions of the Summer vacation and will now begin to affect February and/or April vacations.”
Kathleen Clancy, the Gloucester School Committee chair, said the committee has given the teachers union their best offer — the highest increase in wages for teachers and paraprofessionals they can afford without laying off staff and removing services.
“We’ve heard about parents who are missing out on wages because they have to choose between watching the children or working,” Clancy said, her voice breaking.
Meanwhile, the union said it can no longer pay the court-ordered fines for the illegal strike, which run in the hundreds of thousands.
“We have a counterproposal to what they have offered that adds monies in other areas without causing the need for an override, or overburdening the tax payers in this fine city,” said Rachel Salvo-Rex, co-president of the Union of Gloucester Educators.
A local art studio opened its doors to provide students with activities while they are out of class.
“It’s just offering some relief and offering the kids something fun, because it’s scary for them to all of a sudden feel that routine disrupted,” said Thayne Corbett, of Cape Ann Art Haven.
In Beverly, where students have also missed nine days so far, the superintendent also confirmed vacations will be cut into to reach the state-mandated total of 180 days of learning.
A judge ruled school administrators are not required to continue bargaining with the union for a contract.
The school committee wants teachers to return to school, proposing they continue negotiating after hours. The union said teachers won’t return to work until a deal is reached.
“If they don’t settle this contract, a deal that could have been resolved 13 days ago, we can only predict they will not open schools for a week or longer,” said Julia Brotherton, co-president of the Beverly Teachers Association.
In Marblehead, where students have missed eight days, the school committee has filed a lawsuit against the union.
As the strikes continue, nearing the end of another week, Governor Maura Healey said the students are the ones missing out.
“It’s so hard right now on our kids,” Healey said. “It’s so hard on parents. I really, really strongly encourage the sides to work this out in each of the communities and let’s gets these children back in school.”
This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.
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