Andover Public Faculties shut as academics union votes to go on strike

Andover Public Faculties can be closed Friday after the academics union voted to authorize an open-ended strike. 

The Andover Training Affiliation stated 95 p.c of its membership voted in favor of beginning an open-ended strike “till the college committee bargains in good religion for a good contract the meets the wants of our educators and college students.”

“We don’t make this determination frivolously however this motion is critical for the long run well being and sustainability,” the union stated in a press release. “The AEA has bargained with the Andover Faculty Committee 27 occasions. The union is looking for to boost the pay of tutorial assistants who’re presently incomes far under what is taken into account a dwelling wage for the area. The AEA can be looking for honest raises for academics; protections for educator prep time; longer lunch and recess durations for the youngest learners; entry to paid household and medical depart; and higher educator voice in curriculum choices.”

In a press release, Tracey Spruce, chair of the Andover Faculty Committee stated district faculties can be closed by means of the length of the strike. The college committee and directors will present boxed breakfasts and lunches for college kids that may be picked up at Bancroft Elementary Faculty, she stated, whereas athletics and theater rehearsals could proceed for college kids. 

The college committee, she wrote, doesn’t condone the motion being taken by the union.

“We’re extremely disillusioned on this determination by the AEA to take this unlawful motion that unfairly disrupts the training of our college students,” Spruce stated. “As we shared with the group earlier at the moment, the Faculty Committee has filed a petition with the Division of Labor Relations to cease the strike. The Faculty Committee bargaining groups have negotiated in good religion to succeed in contracts which might be honest to all educators and employees and we urge the union bargaining workforce to right away come again to the negotiating desk and work with us in good religion to succeed in settlement.”

It’s unlawful for academics and different public sector workers to go on strike in Massachusetts. However  there’s a push on Beacon Hill to vary the regulation, and the state has lately seen academics unions provoke strikes in Woburn, Brookline, Malden, and Haverhill.