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WOBURN, MASS. (WHDH) - Schools in Woburn will be closed for a second straight day on Tuesday as a teacher strike continues amid negotiations over a new contract.
News of the second day without school came after teachers could be seen rallying outside City Hall, with hundreds of people holding signs and cheering as traffic passed – all part of an effort to seek a new contract as school officials turned to the courts after negotiations hit an impasse.
At the same time, a complaint for injunctive relief was filed in court, naming the Woburn Teachers Association as defendants. With arguments being made in court late into the afternoon, the judge assigned to the case issued a ruling late Monday night ordering teachers back to the classroom – though school was still canceled because of the uncertainty.
“I am personally willing to stand with my brothers and sisters in this union and fight for what we believe is right,” said teacher Christy Nickerson when asked if she was willing to keep striking in the face of a court order.
Woburn’s mayor told 7NEWS he feels the city has made a fair offer to educators, including a more than 10 percent raise for teachers over three years. He said the teachers demanded more.
“Unfortunately the teachers will be continuing their illegal strike tomorrow, it’s illegal and it’s very disruptive to the children, it’s disruptive to the families,” Mayor Scott Galvin said Monday night.
The teachers have also been demanding the city negotiate a new contract for paraprofessionals at the same time as the teacher talks, stating the current starting salary for paraprofessionals is around $22,000.
They are fighting to raise that base pay to $27,000.
The city, meanwhile, argues that paraprofessional contracts have always been negotiated separately.
Although school is canceled, free lunches will be available at Woburn Public Schools from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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