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‘Steady progress’: Parents, City Council weigh in as Newton teacher strike extends into 9th day
Negotiations continue into Tuesday night as both sides work to reopen schools.
Negotiations to end the Newton educators strike continued late Tuesday night, even as Newton Public Schools said schools will remain closed for the ninth day Wednesday.
Ryan Normandin, a math and physics teacher at Newton South High School and member of the Newton Teachers Association‘s negotiations team, said there is “some progress” around the cost of living adjustments, or COLA, but the School Committee is rejecting proposals regarding living wages for aides and behavioral therapists, reformed parental leave, and mental health support for students.
“I don’t think the school committee really understands who we are and why we’re on strike and what we’re fighting for,” Normandin said a press conference Tuesday night. “These are the things that we’re really fighting for, and they tie those cost of living adjustment increases to rejecting all of these proposals. We can’t accept that.”
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The NTA shared around 9 p.m. on Tuesday that the School Committee is rejecting proposals regarding the union’s proposals for substitute coverage and social workers in all schools.
NPS said their salary proposals are competitive with “NTA-preferred peer districts.”
“While this is not the news any of us wants to hear. Meetings this evening starting at 9:15 look to be productive and we remain optimistic about an end to the strike,” NPS shared in a statement. “A memo regarding the School Committee’s upcoming meeting to discuss the make up of strike days is forthcoming in an email this evening.”
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The Newton City Council also spoke to the press Tuesday afternoon, saying they want schools back open as soon as possible, despite what they depicted as the NTA’s financially strenuous proposal.
“We are calling upon the Mayor to fully fund this proposal,” President Marc Laredo said. “I pledge that each and every one of us in this room is going to work with her to get it done.”
An emergency injunction calling for NTA president’s arrest
Another family filed an emergency motion to get teachers back in the classroom Tuesday as part of an injunction suit filed against the union, court documents show. Allison and David Goldberg have three children in the school district, including one daughter in an individualized program.
“These children need to be in school with their friends and with their teachers whom they adore. They should not be used as pawns in a political game being played by Zilles,” the motion read in part.
On Monday, more than 20 families added their support to parent Lital Asher-Dotan family’s motion, which was added to an injunction filed against the Newton Teachers Association, WCVB reported.
The Goldbergs said the judge should impose harsher financial penalties and arrest NTA President Mike Zilles for criminal contempt of court if the strike continues.
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NTA and Zilles responded to the emergency motion Tuesday, writing that all parties did not receive a copy of the motions and ”private citizens may not obtain injunctive relief against a work stoppage by public sector employees.”
At a press conference on Tuesday night, Normandin said the union still has the support of the community.
“Everyday when we’re out there, we’re rallying and we’re matching, the honks haven’t stopped. The support hasn’t stopped. The parents joining us at our rallies hasn’t stopped,” Normandin said. “We’re fighting for our educators. We’re fighting to give them the schools that that they deserve, their students deserve.”
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