The Marblehead Education Association, the teachers union in town, started collective bargaining talks with the School Committee Thursday, March 14.
Teachers wore red to school in solidarity. Many cars in school parking lots displayed MEA “We Stand Together” placards in their windows.
The MEA told the Current that the union “proposed bargaining in open session so the community could observe negotiations for themselves. The SC rejected it.”
The MEA, which already had Facebook and Instagram accounts, launched a TikTok channel, too, and shared videos by a Malden teacher talking about the Marblehead contract talks and urging people to support Marblehead teachers.
In a video posted March 13, the Malden teacher said, “We can show solidarity by doing things like wearing red for Marblehead tomorrow and posting videos and pictures on social media. Then it sends the message to both the Marblehead Education Association — that they are supported because there’s labor solidarity — and it shows the employer that there are so many people behind the union educators in Marblehead who stand with them in their fight for a fair and just contract.”
In addition to the collective bargaining, the MEA is demanding that the School Committee and district reinstate four teachers suspended with pay after a student restraint crisis, and to fight for full funding for Marblehead schools. More than 1,000 people signed an online petition circulated by the MEA with these and other demands.
School Committee Chair Sarah Fox voiced optimism heading into Thursday’s contract talks.
“I am very proud of the good working relationship the [School Committee] and the MEA have had, particularly over the past year,” Fox told the Current. “I look forward to starting negotiations later today and working together to find a contract that serves the staff, students and citizens of Marblehead well.”
Stay with the Current as the situation develops.
Editor Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist.