Haverhill schools stay closed as teachers continue strike despite judge's order to stop
HAVERHILL – Teachers in Haverhill officially went on strike Monday morning after union representatives could not reach an agreement with the city's School Committee on a new contract. Haverhill schools were closed for the day as a result.
On Monday evening, a judge in Salem ordered the teachers to stop their strike, after the school committee argued it is illegal. Despite the injunction, the teachers union said they plan to continue striking until they reach an agreement.
Rallies and hours of negotiations left the city of Haverhill nowhere, with school canceled again Tuesday as the union and school committee are at a standstill.
"They are pretty much saying to us take this and lie down and our union is not going to do that," said Barry Davis, VP of the Haverhill Education Association.
"We believe we took a step back today," said Scott Wood of the Haverhill School Committee.
The sticking point is teacher pay.
"And unfortunately, our school committee is stuck and refusing to negotiate on anything except pay and they are refusing to move on pay," Davis said.
"The numbers that we've put on the table would put them up to speed with the averages of urban districts," Wood said.
Right now, the average Haverhill teacher makes about $10,000 less than the state average. The school committee claims its offer levels the playing field and that any more would have dire consequences.
"That means massive layoffs throughout the district. That means user fees for students to play sports," Wood said. "That's what it means when you give a bad contract that you cannot afford."
Parents like Michelle Lewis feel the effects of the strike directly. Her son Jake is missing out on the special needs services he requires at the Bartlett School. Still, Michelle supports the teachers.
"I mean I worked in the public school system for I think a year, and I was just like I can't do it. I don't know how they do it," Michelle Lewis said. "Like I heard they didn't have a raise in seven years? Like give it to them. They deserve it."
The teachers feel so passionately that they're striking illegally, and risk being held in contempt of court on Tuesday when they strike despite a judge's order.
"Sometimes you have to pick between what is moral and what is legal, and what is moral is getting the best schools for our students and we chose that," Davis said.
Despite the tension there is optimism for an end to the strike.
"I truly believe that we on the school committee and the teachers have the best interest of the children and the students and the families in the city of Haverhill at heart," said school committee member Paul Magliocchetti. "That is a very powerful common denominator."
A court hearing about the strike is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Malden schools were also closed on Monday due to a teacher strike. A tentative deal was reached to end the Malden strike late Monday night.