MARBLEHEAD — Yesterday, faculty and staff from Salem State University, the Marblehead Education Association, the Beverly Teachers Association, and the Gloucester Teachers Association rallied in solidarity with one another.
Marblehead educators voted to go on strike on Friday, Nov. 8, and have been out of the classrooms since Tuesday. Meanwhile, Gloucester and Beverly educators voted to go on strike on Thursday, Nov. 7, and have been out of classrooms since Friday, Nov. 8.
Psychology professor and president of the faculty and librarian union at Salem State, Joanna Gonsalves, spoke at the rally, emphasizing what each of the unions are fighting for as they remain on strike. Gonsalves also highlighted Thatcher Kezer, Marblehead town administrator and Salem State board of trustees member. “[Kezer] has some contributions to your contract negotiations, and it seems as if that’s to maybe stall and not do the hard math to figure out how to pay you the wages you deserve,” Gonsalves said.
In a statement, Erin Cooley, managing director of Democrats for Education Reform Massachusetts, summarized the offers coming from each district’s School Committees. The Gloucester School Committee offered more than a 20 percent salary increase, the Beverly School Committee offered a 21 percent increase, and the Marblehead School Committee offered 12 percent.
Gonsalves and fellow faculty members are calling on the Salem State leadership to use their power to help the unions on strike. Their message was directed towards Salem State President John Keenan, the University’s board of trustees, and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.
Gonsalves and representatives from each union crossed the street to hand the letter directly to Keenan. Upon their return, they mentioned he was not present in his office, but they believe their message will be heard loud and clear.
Marblehead Veterans Middle School teacher Jae Guttadauro provided a brief update on the negotiations occurring in Marblehead. He mentioned that the Department of Labor Relations had a heightened presence yesterday morning to oversee the mediations taking place.
Members of the Marblehead Select Board were also in attendance at the meeting yesterday to check if the School Committee is actually able to negotiate, Guttadauro added.
In regards to the speculations being circulated that the School Committee is “stalling” the process of negotiation, MEA members said “100 percent.” From the vantage point of the MEA, the School Committee spends hours reviewing the proposals given to them, only to return with the answer no. MEA members are curious as to why it takes several hours for the School Committee to reply when their reply is simply just “no.”
Yesterday, fines of upwards of $60,000 were pressed onto the MEA, as well as Gloucester and Beverly, which Guttadauro believes is a part of the law firm’s “playbook.” He added, “it happened in Newton, it happened in Andover, it’s happening in Beverly, and now it’s happening in Marblehead.”
With still no progress being made in Marblehead, the School Committee and MEA will continue with negotiations throughout the weekend in hopes to make progress that will bring students back to the classrooms on Monday.
