Teachers’ union members statewide gathered at the Friday, November 10 demonstration in support of the Andover Education Association (AEA) at the Town Commons. In addition to lending support, union attendees from other towns voiced empathy for the AEA’s current situation. These districts included Newton, Wellesley, North Andover, Haverhill, Malden, Woburn, Somerville, Melrose, and Dartmouth according to the Massachusetts Teacher Association (MTA) President Max Page.
Having faced a similar situation last October resulting in a four-day strike, members of the Haverhill Education Association attended the rally to support the AEA. “We saw our School Committee not put students first, not put staff first, and push teachers and parents and the community to have to go on strike to do what’s best for our students,” said president of the Haverhill Education Association Barry Davis. “When we were on strike, the [AEA] came and supported us, and we’re here to support them.”
The North Andover Teachers Union also faced similar negotiation affairs with their School Committee that have been resolved as of November 10, the day AEA went on strike. Juliette Damon, president of the North Andover Teachers Union, expressed gratitude to North Andover’s School Committee, who “gave [them] an amazing contract.” Damon additionally was sympathetic towards the AEA. “If I had been in the same boat as the Andover teachers, I would have loved for the president of Andover to come and support me if my members were in the same position,” Damon said.
STAFF PHOTO / Julia Rodenberger Teachers and supporters gather at the strikeout.
The AEA strike may also act as an inspiration for other towns’ teacher unions. “I am here to support a fair contract or help with the bargaining going on right now,” Page said. “As we have seen, there were over 15 different districts represented [at the rally]. They inspired Andover and Andover will inspire them. There’s a lot of communication [that’s going] on about what we need to do in our schools.”
Max Page, current president of the Massachusetts Teachers Union (MTA), attended the Andover Education Association’s (AEA) first day of the strike on Friday, November 10. As an educator himself and having served as the MTA’s president for almost over a year, Page shared his perspective on the events that have been unfolding over the past few days.
STAFF PHOTO / Julia Rodenberger Strikeout attendee holds up an “ANDOVER EDUCATORS ON STRIKE!” sign.
Why are you here at the strike today?
Well, I’m the president of this state’s Teachers Association. This represents 117,000 public school and college educators in 400 local areas and Andover is one of those areas. We represent them, stand behind them, and support them in their fight for a fair contract.
What inspired you to come here and support Andover educators?
I mean, it’s so inspiring when you have a group of educators who want to demand what’s right for the schools, including the betterment of students and educators, especially the instructional assistants. It’s the educators who know best what students need. I love that they’re standing up and willing to do whatever is needed to get it right.
Have you seen similar movements across Massachusetts, for example, teachers fighting for different contracts?
Absolutely. You know, really, there’s been this growing momentum over the past decade of educators not willing to just accept whatever is being offered, and they’re demanding more–they’re raising their level of expectation for their students and for themselves as educators and that’s been going on for the past number of years. It’s been really exciting.
How do you feel about it being illegal here in Massachusetts to strike?
You know what Representative Erica Uyterhoeven from Somerville was saying in her speech–we’ve worked on [a bill] with her, which [would] remove the prohibition of striking [in Massachusetts.] There’s a great history and terrible history [to the bill] which goes back to the time when Boston Police officers went on strike in 1919. And I can tell you there’s a lot of stories around that. But that eventually became this tradition of “Oh, we don’t let public sector workers go on strike” and it was eventually enshrined in law. And it’s a bad law. It’s wrong. It’s frankly, immoral. So we’ve been working to change that law. But clearly educators after nine months decided that this is what they needed to do.
Do you see any of the demands here getting enshrined in state law in the near future?
You know, one of the things that we do believe is that paid parental leave should be universal. It is universal for private sector workers and many public sector workers, but not municipal workers. So it’s a huge problem. The MTA helped win this for most workers, but it excluded municipal workers. So educators who are two-thirds of women who are most likely to take the paid parental leave, do not have it by right. So while people are fighting for it here in Andover, we hope eventually to have that be state law.
COURTESY PHOTO / Christopher Shepley Christopher Shepley smiles for the camera.
Andover High School senior Christopher Shepley will enter the race in the upcoming School Committee election in March with a mission of bringing change and transparency. ANDOVERVIEW interviewed him during the Andover Education Association’s rally at Andover Common on November 10.
Why are you running for the school committee?
I’m running for school committee because it’s clear to me that the current people in power right now are just completely incompetent. If you look at the teachers’ strike, for example, they’ve had since January to come up with a contract, but they’ve drawn this out back and forth… [it’s] absolutely terrible. And I support the educators 100%… I’m running [to] advocate for the students, the educators, the parents, everybody. Because right now on the school committee, there’s one voice that’s being represented and that’s the people on the committee. They represent special interests of themselves… not the town.
How will you get on the school committee?
I’m going to get on the school committee by reaching out to people who don’t necessarily vote in the town elections. If you look at the town elections, the turnout is very low. So I want to reach out to the people who don’t come out to vote… and to speak to them. I want to get the message out to everybody who has seen the wrongs [of] the school committee, who sees that there needs to be change, and needs to be someone who will stand up for the interests of the communities and the interests of the school district.
What will you do once you become part of the school committee?
My first goal is to be completely transparent. I want to bring transparency back to the school committee. Right now, if you look, especially during the bargaining sessions, it’s all behind closed doors. The teachers have said they want to open it up to the public, [but] the school committee won’t. There [are] a lot of decisions that are being made that the public is not in tune with. They aren’t informed about [it]. So I want to bring transparency. I want to bring the interests of everybody; to act as a mouthpiece for the community. I want to act as the spokesman for the little guy: the [people] in town who [are not] necessarily represented right now. For more information on his campaign, visit: https://www.apsrenewal.com/
COURTESY PHOTO / Melissa Nussbaum Melissa Nussbaum smiles for the camera.
Melissa Nussbaum, fifth-grade teacher at South Elementary School and member of the Andover Education Association’s (AEA) negotiating team, rallied outside of South School along with other educators on Friday. As cars honked in support of the AEA as they passed by the rally, Nussbaum revealed her outlook on the ongoing dispute.
Why are you here striking today?
[The School Committee] is only giving us a portion of what we wanted and what we’ve asked for. [We come] off [as] ridiculous [for] what we’re asking for, but they’re not being honest. One of the reasons we wanted to rally is so the whole town could watch us [and] listen to everything, [the School Committee] didn’t, which is their prerogative. [But] then they follow up all of our bargaining sessions by using their unique ability to email all families at once in the whole town, which we cannot do… They’re sharing only what little teasers they want to share that put them in a better light and make us look terrible. If we were allowed to do the same, people would know the real story.
When do you think this strike will end, or how long are you planning to strike?
We’re going to strike until we get a fair contract and a return-to-work agreement that keeps everyone safe.
Do you mind explaining a little about what the “return-to-work” agreement is?
Depending on how long a strike is, in general, you have to bargain a return-to-work agreement because… there are some teachers that have professional status. You have to make sure that each retaliation that comes their way—so if there are fines or losses or loss of wages—that all needs to be bargained back. A strike day is just like a snow day, right? We’re going to have to make the day up. I think it just makes [for] better transitioning so that going back to work goes smoothly for everybody.
How has the administration generally responded to the strike?
We really respect our principal. She’s been great and very respectful to us. There’s the administration that’s uptown, and then there’s the administration that’s in your building. For me, they’re two different entities.
How do you think the strike affects the students at South and across APS?
I think it affects kids in different ways [in each grade]. I think how parents talk to kids matters as well. Of course, I’m not talking to elementary schoolers about strikes or anything political. In middle and high school, I think the kids [are] affected differently, and I think it has to do with how much involvement they… have in this issue and… in the community. Some want to be part of it and others don’t understand or they’re not interested in it. I like that the kids are organizing themselves and speaking out about what they believe and that’s great.
Andover Public Schools (APS) students showed up downtown to support their teachers at an Andover Education Association (AEA) rally on Friday, November 10.
Kids ranging from first grade to high school seniors rallied in support of the AEA. Most, if not all, of the students’ sentiments were the same: “I’m here to support our educators who deserve fair pay,” said sophomore Tess Moglia.
“We are making sure that IAs specifically get better pay and get liveable wages,” AHS senior Nate Allen said. There was overwhelming support for the teachers seen by the turnout of students alone. Senior Nick Vacarro said he “would not be the person [he is] today without the teachers’ support”.
Junior Mitran Kumar, who gave a speech and is a member of the student organization Respect Our Teachers, stands strong in his support. “So far, there have been 27 rounds of unsuccessful negotiation,” Kumar said. “And we’re hoping today’s strike can show that that’s not acceptable, and students are now behind you.”
STAFF PHOTO / Julia Rodenberger Mitran Kumar makes a speech during the strikeout.
Oscar Gillette, founder of the Respect Our Teachers organization and AHS Class of 2023 graduate, expressed similar sentiments towards Andover educators. Several students from the organization also took part in a rally on Wednesday, November 8, showing up at the Senior Center to support the AEA negotiation team.
Another senior, Hannah Lehmann, said, “They are demanding resources to be able to be better teachers for us so we owe it to them to support them.” Abinaya Ganesh, a senior and participant in the high school’s production of Rent, stated that while the production has been allowed to continue and her extracurricular life hasn’t been interrupted too much, she is “willing to have my life disrupted” for the cause.
While 8th graders Aiden DeLuca, Sam Bossieux, Jack Walsh, and Jack Difiore enjoyed the day off, DeLuca explains that they came to “check out the strike and see all of [their] teachers.”
With the School Committee being a group of parents, Ganesh thinks it’s the parent’s job to look out for students. “It may seem [to the Committee] like that’s what [they are] doing right now, but what will really benefit the students is teachers being able to do their job properly.”
“We will not accept these locked-in negotiations and we will not stop until they bring a proper agreement, a fair contract, and livable wages which is why we as the students will stand by it until those agreements are met,” Kumar said adamantly. “One more thing. Warriors don’t cross the picket line.”
During the November 10 AEA demonstration, members of the Andover community all over Massachusetts came together at the Town Commons. They shared sentiments regarding the Andover School Committee’s offers and refusals to meet the AEA’s demands.
Brian Shea, AHS English Teacher, opened the stage by defining what Andover Public Schools (APS) truly is, saying that APS is not merely a set of numbers to be analyzed but a thriving community based on love, care, and compassion. Although school is closed, Shea wanted “to be clear that APS is not closed today because APS is right here!”
Kathryn Conti, Woodhill Middle School (WHMS) eighth-grade special education teacher of 20 years and army veteran thanked the rally: “Your personal life and commitment to the common good are an inspiration to students and teachers alike.”
Daniel Donnavon, AHS Science Teacher and marine veteran, declared, “Service is something we model every day in our teaching. We have to stand up for ourselves and model that for our students.”
STAFF PHOTO / Julia Rodenberger Matthew Bach makes a speech at the strikeout.
Matthew Bach, AEA President and AHS History Teacher, shared his eagerness to get back to the classroom but said that [the AEA] “is doing this because it is the right thing to do, and if [they] didn’t do it [he] wouldn’t be able to…look [his] students in the eye. There is a time when what’s just and what’s right has to overcome fear and a reluctance to get out of our individualism. And [the AEA is] here collectively to do that today. And we’re going to win.”
Julian Digloria, AEA Vice President and WHMS History Teacher, reflected on his personal and familial connection to the town as an educator and how important public education is. “It’s something that people do not have across the globe and in some cases in this country and…. something that our armed forces are fighting to protect,” he said. Andover “has been a lighthouse district for public education,” he continued, “[and] we want to keep it that way.” Digloria urged the School Committee to work with the AEA, to offer them a fair contract, and to respect their employees in order to keep Andover a lighthouse district in the commonwealth and in the nation.
Karen Torres, Instructional Assistant Unit Chair, reminded all instructional assistants of their value to the district and how critical their work is for the success of their students. Torres emphasized how the school committee “can’t fill instructional assistant positions that are posted and open, because it’s a difficult, low paying job, and now the district values [instructional assistants] so much that they’re willing to pay an outside company $65 an hour to fill that position.” Torres ended her speech by demanding that the school committee “Do [their] job!”
Chrissy Lynch, Massachusetts AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor–Congress of Industrial Organizations) President, explained her role and reason for joining the AEA strike: “The job of the AFL-CIO is when one union gets picked on you got a whole bunch of other ones standing in solidarity.” The AFL-CIO represents over 800 local unions across Massachusetts from every sector. Lynch said “Our educators deserve everything that our cities and our state can give them. This is the future of our world.” Although Massachusetts passed the Fair Share Amendment, expected to generate about $2 billion in yearly support for transportation and public education, Lynch said, “Now is the time to use those investments to make sure our schools are getting the resources they need.”
Kara Routier, AHS Instructional Assistant, shared how difficult it is to pursue a career in education because the “starting wage for IAs here is not adequate to pay for housing, food, any student loans, transportation, clothing, and routine bills.” Routier expressed her concern for Andover’s diminishing appeal to young educators, lack of recognition for experienced educators, and the School Committee’s disregard for students, particularly those with special needs.
Dayshawn Simmons, Somerville Educators Union (SEU) President, expressed solidarity with AEA, highlighting their shared struggle for fair wages and conditions. Drawing from Somerville’s experience, he encouraged the AEA to trust in their collective power, emphasizing that their fight will only yield positive changes for educators but will also inspire and empower students: “You all made the brave, courageous, and righteous decision to advocate for yourself, your students, and the Andover community,” said Simmons, “remember what you are fighting for and know that you deserve it.”
STAFF PHOTO / Julia Rodenberger Erica Uyterhoeven makes a speech at the strikeout.
Erica Uyterhoeven, Somerville State Representative, shared her personal connection to labor struggles through her mother’s union. “My first picket line was in the womb,” said Uyterhoeven. She encouraged educators to remember their courage during challenging times and dispelled myths related to funding, the misconception that “Somehow because [teachers] care [about the students], [they] should be paid less,” and the belief that public sector unions are different. She emphasized the right to strike is crucial for negotiation for a fair contract, and she has proposed a bill advocating for the restoration of the right to strike for public sector workers, expressing strong support for the educator’s actions in Andover.
Maura McCurdy Santiago, Andover Parent, read a letter she sent to the School Committee and the Superintendent. She expressed deep disappointment with the School Committee for the prolonged negotiations and lack of urgency in addressing teachers’ concerns. Santiago highlighted teacher’s efforts during the pandemic and argued for a fair wage that considers the cost of living and matches neighboring communities. She asked the School Committee to consider if they “make a good enough living wage to support [their] own family if [they] had to take an unpaid leave to support a sick loved one?”
Students from the AHS Respect Our Teachers Organization, stepped up and shared their personal experiences with the Andover education system. Mitran Kumar, an AHS junior, highlighted the historical significance of the Bread and Roses movements and drew parallels to the ongoing struggle for a fair contract for teachers in Andover. Mitran said, “This is said to be the land of the free and the home of the brave. But I ask you this: when you don’t have the fundamental right to strike, do you feel free? When you don’t have any meaningful impact or input over your curriculum, do you feel free? When you can’t take time off of work for the death of a family member, do you feel free? But I also ask you this together as we stand here in solidarity, just how powerful we are together. Do you feel brave?”
President Michael Zilles, President of the Newton Teachers Association (NTA), stated that the NTA is working with the same law firm, using similar tactics to resist contracts. Ziles said, “They think they can beat us, but they can’t. I’m coming away from here feeling stronger because what [the AEA] is doing here is going to help 2000 members in Newton and we are going to win just as [the AEA is] going to win.” Max Page, Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) President and Deb McCarthy, MTA Vice President addressed the crowd in solidarity and expressed admiration for the union members fighting for living wages, paid parental leave, and adequate recess time. Page said, “You are not going to be getting this by asking. You are doing this by demanding a fair contract for all your members and for the students in this district… The fight for racial gender, education, and justice, runs through the AEA and runs right through Andover, so you do this for yourselves and your students, but you do this for a larger labor movement that is on the rise.”
The Andover Education Association (AEA) rallied outside schools and at Andover Commons on Friday, November 10, after voting to strike Thursday night.
For the first time in 30 years, the AEA strikes gathered a crowd of red at the Town Commons.
With schools closed due to the Union’s strike, many students came out to show their support for educators. In the crowd of nearly 1000, there were also parents and other educators from neighboring districts like Haverhill, Woburn, and North Andover.
Parent Lauren Kinney hopes that the school committee will come to see “the value that our teachers provide and agree that their requests are not unreasonable.” AHS Senior Michaela Buckley said that educators “do so much for us and the least we can do is have them paid a liveable wage.” 2023 Alumnus John Macy agreed with Buckley and stood with the AEA saying “They did a great job educating me and I want to get them a fair contract.”
Arlington teacher and Methuen resident, Jenna Maderios, said it was important to her “to come out and show teacher solidarity.” Strikes like this have been successful in other Massachusetts towns and while “it’s unfortunate that it has to get to this, it is what Andover educators deserve,” Maderios said.
With the AEA’s decision to strike, the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board (CERB) at the Department of Labor Relations ordered the Union to cease and desist after they broke the law (M.G.L. c. 150E, s. 9A). The CERB also ordered a state mediator for the negotiations held on November 10.
Oscar Gillette, a 2023 alumnus of AHS, created Respect Our Teachers, “a group of students and alumni who support the union” said Gilette. The group is taking two approaches, electoral (where they will gather signatures, and if they get 200 signatures from registered Andover adults a town meeting will be triggered) and civil disobedience (where students will refuse to attend school without a fair contract for their educators).
STAFF PHOTO / Julia Rodenberger Seniors rally in support of the AEA.
The School Committee’s proposal on Friday included enhanced paid parental leave (including 11 weeks of paid leave for any parent) and an increase in sick days for Instructional Assistants which now have a total of 15 sick days.
While the Committee is dedicated to “negotiating in good faith” as said in their statement on November 11, the AEA has made it clear that enough is enough even though they have yet to respond.
For more information on negotiations visit aps1.net
