NEWTON, Mass. —þTeachers in Newton, one of the most populous cities in Massachusetts, voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, the union announced on Thursday evening.þþThe Newton Teachers Association held a rally and press conference outside City Hall on Thursday evening, where they announced their strike would begin immediately.þþÿNinety-eight percent of our membership tonight voted yes to begin a strike tomorrow morning,ÿ union president Mike Zilles said.þþÿWe are saying, Mayor (Ruthanne) Fuller, enough is enough,ÿ he also said.þþÿThe School Committee’s focus right now is returning our kids to the classroom,ÿ Fuller wrote. ÿWe will do everything possible to reach a competitive agreement that both honors our educators and provides program improvements and necessary supports for our students.ÿþþÿThe adults belong at the negotiating table,ÿ Fuller said. ÿThe students belong in the classroom.ÿþþÿOur administration has been in touch with all parties in Newton urging them to come to an agreement so that our educators get the benefits and wages they need, and students can return to the classroom,ÿ a spokesperson for Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement.þþEarlier in the day, the union released a statement saying the mayor and the School Committee were not making any ÿmeaningful movementÿ in negotiations.þþÿWe are deeply disturbed that the mayor is insisting that schools are sufficiently funded,ÿ the statement said. ÿWhile other districts have recognized the growing needs of students and increased their allocations to public schools, Mayor Fuller continues to underfund our schools in Newton.ÿþþThe group has said the city needs to ÿfund a living wage for aides and behavior therapists, offer classroom teachers competitive pay raises, hire more social workers and support staff to address the student mental health crisis and to establish modern, humane paid family leave for all educators.ÿþþNewton Public Schools teachers were in the classroom Wednesday but parents were at Newton City Hall rallying in support of the educators, who have been negotiating a new contract for over a year.þþThe parents organized the rally in front of Newton City Hall Wednesday morning to call on Fuller to take action.þþÿParents really value the work of the teachers in Newton. They do an amazing, amazing job and they're not paid fairly for what they do,ÿ said parent Shawn Fitzgibbons.þþÿAt no point in human history is someone siding on the other side of the teachers the right choice,ÿ said parent Elizabeth Brill.þþÿNewton Public Schools have been underfunded for the last several years,ÿ another parent said.þþFollowing the peaceful rally outside, a smaller group of parents were invited inside City Hall to meet with Fuller, who spoke to reporters immediately following her meeting with parents.þþÿNewton Public Schools always gets the largest increase, compared to all the other departments, and I will continue to prioritize the funding for Newton Public Schools,ÿ Fuller said.þþÿUnfortunately, what we've heard from the other side is that Newton Public Schools have been underfunded for years. What's your response to that?ÿ WCVB’s Todd Kazakiewich asked.þþÿI look forward to getting back to our voters and asking for an operating override. Proposition 2 ½ caps all of our tax revenue,ÿ the mayor said.
Source: www.wcvb.com
