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‘They have too much power:’ Readers disagree with the North Shore teacher strikes. Here’s why.
More than 570 readers responded to our poll. Here's what they want to see change for public school educators.
Educators in Marblehead, Beverly, and Gloucester remained steadfast in their separate teachers strikes on Tuesday, despite Boston.com readers’ disapproval of the strikes.
The teachers unions are asking for higher wages for teachers and paraprofessionals, improved paid parental leave benefits, and other points like school safety and class sizes. The unions are slated to rally Tuesday at the State House in Boston.
All three unions – the Beverly Teachers Association, the Marblehead Education Association, and the Union of Gloucester Educators – belong to the Massachusetts Teachers Association, which has lobbied Beacon Hill for the right to strike. It is illegal for teachers to strike in Massachusetts, a measure that Boston.com readers support (albeit not by a large margin). A judge ordered the Gloucester and Beverly teachers’ unions to pay a $50,000 fine if the strike wasn’t called off. The fines go up by $10,000 each day the strike continues.
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When we asked Boston.com readers to weigh in on the teacher’s strikes, 572 respondents voted in our poll. The majority (62%) said they disagreed with the strikes, while 35% said they agreed. Just 3% said they were undecided.
Do you agree with the teacher's strikes in the North Shore?
Yes, I agree
35%
No, I disagree
62%
It depends
3%
Many who disagreed in our poll said they believe the strikes are more harmful than helpful, particularly for the students impacted by school closures. Students in Beverly and Gloucester have been out of school since Nov. 8, while Marblehead students have been out of school since Nov. 12 as a result of the strikes.
“Do these teachers and paraprofessionals realize the burden they are putting on the parents? Why are they not protesting in the summer or during one of their vacation weeks? What about the students? They deserve their education and to keep it on track,” reader Amanda J. from Milton said.
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Some readers went so far as to call for teachers’ unions to be disbanded.
“I don’t believe government employees like teachers should be in unions, they have too much power. Especially now without the MCAS, there’s zero accountability,” reader John from Woburn said, adding that “[educators] could have gone on strike over the summer but always wait until school is in session to strike even though it is illegal for them to.”
More on MCAS:
But proponents of the strikes said such action is needed – if not necessary – to make substantial changes to the profession, which many argued has “long been disrespected, ignored and taken for granted.”
“If the hundreds of supporters at BTA rallies won’t make [Beverly Mayor Michael Cahill] and the School Committee budge, what will? Beverly residents clearly want our teachers to have everything they need! This strike is so important in the political climate today. This is true power to the people,” reader Claire from Beverly said.
Reader Brad W. from Beverly, who said he has three children in Beverly Public Schools, said he hopes the strike can serve as an example for other school districts across the state seeking to make similar changes.
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“My hope [is] that the new contract in Beverly will honor the dignity of our educators and be a model for the state. I want other districts in the Commonwealth to see Beverly as a leader in genuinely caring for its youngest citizens by providing educators with a fair and equitable contract,” he said.
Below, readers both for and against the North Shore teacher strikes share what changes they’d like to see for public school education and educators.
Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
What changes would you like to see made for public school educators?
I disagree with the strikes. These are the changes I want to see.
“Wait until the next contract to negotiate. Why weren’t these issues fought harder during the last contract negotiations? For a ‘school’ of educators, it doesn’t seem very well thought out considering the fines incurred.” – Adam, Beverly
“Open up more charter schools. The recent removal of any kind of teaching standard during the November elections is another example of the lack of accountability in the outcomes of our kids. Start by making these jobs less protected and more competitive. That does not mean lowering pay. It means less protected and entitled and ensured roles. Start by holding school boards and teachers accountable for outcomes. Start by having real performance standards and curriculum that isn’t teaching ideology, but is teaching the skills these kids need to compete in a global workforce.” – Joe P., Hanover
“[Introduce] binding arbitration! Let both sides plead its case. Allow a three member board to decide the answer. These strikes are against the law. The teachers are not showing their students how to be good, law-abiding role models.” – Tim, Medway
“Dissolve the union. Pay out the defined benefit plan and create a 401k for teachers to invest in, which would eliminate the growing liability that is crushing these local towns, and create a work environment whereby teachers are stack ranked and rated annually on their outcomes.” – Tim, Andover
“Let the State Legislature (the House) stipulate the percentage of salary increase for all state public schools each year in November (by county), to be instituted the following school year in September. Allow everybody (public, unions, parents, teachers, etc.) to lobby the legislature for the appropriate fair annual rate!” – George, Foxborough
“I would like to see some guidance from the State on teacher salaries. It feels like each teacher union is just pointing to other districts as the reason they need a pay increase, which just creates a vicious circle. Everybody needs a pay increase because the town next door just negotiated a pay increase – and around and around we go!” – Mark, Boston
“Nothing [should change for public school educators] – they already have a fair deal. The strikes are ridiculous. I am a non-union employee with a similar salary to those protesting, I work a second job to make ends meet. Local municipalities are stretched so thin by the over-the-top demands and requests made by teachers’ unions when bargaining.” – Matthew, Amesbury
I agree with the strikes. These are the changes I want to see.
“Those who are responsible for caring and educating the most vulnerable members of our society deserve the rights of a living wage and to be able to care for their families. A budget is a moral document that states what a community and its leaders value and prioritize. If we are going to be a community that truly values education then we need to ensure that our educators are taken care of.” – John M., Beverly
“Paraprofessionals deserve a living wage! They should be able to afford to live in the very community where they work, and in order to be able to do that they need to make a living wage!” – Amy B., Beverly
“The funding model needs to be changed so that 1.) Teachers and paraprofessionals are paid commensurate with their professional status and education, and 2.) Teachers and paraprofessionals don’t need to go begging for salary increases, improved working conditions, and the like. Bottom line, those who don’t think that teachers and paraprofessionals aren’t worth a helluva lot more money just need to spend a few days in the classroom! Then they will know that this profession is not an 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. job.” – Peter F., Marblehead
“Paraprofessionals do incredibly important, difficult work to make schools run for all students – particularly for students who receive Special Education services. For all school staff, a humane, paid parental leave policy is long overdue throughout this state. It is a travesty that the state Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) specifically exempts municipal employees from coverage, leading to teachers having to take unpaid leaves of absence to care for a new child, if they can even afford to start a family.” – D.J., Swampscott
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
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