There will be no school Monday in Haverhill and Malden, Massachusetts, after meetings this weekend yielded no agreement between the school committee and the teachers union in each city.
"Unfortunately, while both sides have compromised, the School Committee and HEA Teachers do not yet have a tentative agreement," Haverhill Public Schools wrote in an announcement posted to its website. "As such, we are forced to cancel school for students tomorrow, Monday October 17, 2022."
Haverhill employees are expected to report to work, however, as school "IS OPEN" and only closed to students, school officials said.
Later Sunday, Malden school officials issued a similar statement, and said all staff members should report to work Monday.
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"After all-day negotiations on Sunday, October 16, 2022, no agreement was reached with the Malden Education Association. Because of the strike threat, there is NO SCHOOL for Malden Public Schools students on Monday, October 17, 2022," Malden Public Schools said in a statement posted to its website. "There will be no after-school programs, extracurricular, and athletic practices/games. Transportation will be provided for out-of-district students."
Some 6,000 students in Malden and 8,000 in Haverhill will be impacted by closures Monday.
Local
Malden and Haverhill teachers will officially go on strike Monday morning after their contract negotiations stalled Sunday between union members and school committee members in both cities.
Teachers are prohibited from striking under Massachusetts law and could face legal action if they walk out. Still, several unions in nearby communities, including the Massachusetts Teachers Association, are supporting the strikes.
Malden teachers erupted into applause and cheers Sunday night, refusing to budge on the issue of wages, with school committee members calling for mediation, walking away from the negotiating table inside city hall.
"We would have hoped the bargaining could have continued… and that no avoidable disruption to the education of our students and routine of our families would occur,” Malden Superintendent Ligia Noriega-Murphy said in a statement in part.
Teachers in both districts have been without a contract since the summer. In Malden, their contract expired Aug. 31. Educators in Haverhill have been trying to hammer out a deal since the end of June.
School officials and teachers in Haverhill spent seven hours negotiating with a state mediator on Saturday. Meanwhile hundreds of teachers, parents and students rallied in each city, calling for better pay and smaller class sizes.
“This is stressful for everyone and if I could predict what was going to happen I certainly would. I’m hopeful because I know that we are coming to the table in good faith from day one,” said Deb Gesualdo, president of the Malden Education Association.
“I can tell you that our members are scared. They’re scared for their students. They’re not sure what they’re doing is right… we think we’re doing the right thing,” said Tim Briggs, president of the Haverhill Education Association (HEA).
“These people have come to work have been abused by administration, have been abused by a mayor, have been abused by a school committee,” Barry Davis with the HEA said.
Some Haverhill School Committee members on Sunday wrote off complaints from the union, saying the purposed wage increases would be the largest for them in 20 years.
“And what we believe would be the largest increase of any union in the city of Haverhill in the last 20 years,” Scott Wood said.
An attorney and member of the Haverhill School Committee speaking to reporters on Sunday said a strike means more than just no class on Monday.
“What people don’t realize there are many children in this city who unfortunately don’t get proper nutrition at home, they go without eating and they rely on the schools,” they said.
The Haverhill Negotiations Subcommittee released a statement Sunday night, saying this creates a "tremendous burden" for many of the district's families.
"After hours at the negotiating table over the weekend, we were not able to reach an agreement with the Haverhill Education Association - the union representing our teachers," the statement read. "While some progress was made over the last few days, we are extremely disappointed that union leadership and the Massachusetts Teachers Association has encouraged our teachers to take this illegal action."
According to the statement, the school committee and the Massachusetts Labor Board are asking a Salem Superior Court judge to issue an injunction against the union for its "illegal strike which would have a devastating effect on the students and families in Haverhill."
Negotiations in Haverhill are expected to resume 8 a.m. Monday.
Meanwhile, Haverhill school officials have offered information to parents on how to access child care and food while schools are closed to students Monday.
CHILD CARE OPTIONS
- The Haverhill YMCA and Boys and Girls Club of Greater Haverhill will be open on Monday for children presently enrolled in their programs.
- Parents of children who are registered for before school or afterschool programs at the YMCA will receive an email directly from the YMCA regarding childcare options, including a full-day program from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Haverhill YMCA.
- Parents of children who are not registered for before school or afterschool programs at the YMCA, but are enrolled in Haverhill Public Schools grades K - 4, can sign up for a drop in-program at the Plaistow Community YMCA, located at 175 Plaistow Road, Plaistow, NH, from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Pre-registration is required in advance.
- Haverhill school students who are members of the Haverhill Boys and Girls Club are welcome to drop in at the club anytime Monday between 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
FOOD OPTIONS
Many students rely on free breakfast and lunch, school officials noted, adding that these may be the only nutritious meals some students get on any given day.
"We are committed to providing access to the nutrition our students need during this closure," officials said in a statement.
School officials have worked with food services to provide students with access to a free school lunch for Monday and breakfast for Tuesday, for all children aged 18 and under, from 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the following locations:
- The Haverhill YMCA, 81 Winter Street
- The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Haverhill, 55 Emerson Street
- Swasey Field Park, 59 Blaisdell Street
- Haverhill Stadium, Lincoln and Nettleton
- Haverhill Public Works Department - Parking Lot, 500 Primrose Street
- Winnekenni Castle - Tennis courts - 347 Kenoza Avenue
- Bradford Commons
- Cashman’s Park on Hilldale Avenue
