The Marblehead Education Association will be taking part in a coordinated demonstration this week, helping fight for access to paid family leave for educators in Massachusetts.
More than 5,000 educators across 11 districts on the North Shore from local unions, that belong to both the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts, will be participating in walk-ins at their respective schools throughout the week.
Marblehead will hold its walk-in at the start of the work day on Thursday, April 11. The demonstrations come as the town’s teachers union is amidst contract negotiations with the School Committee. The MEA’s contract is set to expire at the end of the year.
“The MEA stands in solidarity with the North Shore Educators United and its 5,000 members during our week of Action, as we rally for paid parental leave,” the MEA said in a statement. “One of the MEA’s core priorities for collective bargaining with the School Committee is reaching an agreement on humane and equitable parental leave policies. On Thursday, April 11th, MEA members will walk-in to school together for fair and just parental leave.”
According to a statement from the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, which went into law in 2018, left out municipal employees, which includes public school employees, despite educator unions being amongst “the strongest advocates” for the act.
Now, the MTA is pushing for local unions that are up for collective bargaining to advocate for paid family leave.
“Consequently, educators need to use the contract bargaining process to establish paid family leave that is comparable to the benefits afforded private-sector workers,” the MTA said in a statement.
Other districts participating in demonstrations this week include Beverly, Gloucester, Revere, Ipswich, Hamilton-Wenham, Masconomet Regional, Danvers, Salem, Georgetown, and Chelsea.
Morning demonstrations will occur across all Marblehead schools on Thursday.
