Wednesday, February 08, 2023

WOBURN, MASS ILLEGAL TEACHER STRIKE ENDS IN 4 YEAR CONTRACT WITH 13.75% PAY INCREASE FOR TEACHERS AND 40% INCREASE FOR PARAS; MASSIVE STRIKES IN UK AND FRANCE

We have a third recent illegal public school teacher strike in Massachusetts. The latest was in Woburn, a city 12 miles north of Boston.

This is from NBC Boston:

After a full school week on the picket line, teachers are going back to the classroom on Monday in Woburn, Massachusetts, after a deal was reached Sunday between school and city officials and educators.

Further down:

The teachers will get a 13.75% salary increase, spread out over a four-year contract. Paraprofessionals, meanwhile, got a 40% raise.

As part of the deal, the union also agreed to pay for the cost of the week-long strike, which amounts to $225,000 over the next four years, along with a $20,000 donation to charity.

A lesson learned for NY public workers is to negotiate as part of a return-to-work agreement that there are reduced or no fines levied against the teachers or their unions for striking. The employer can drop charges in court if there is enough pressure. In the end, it's up to workers and/or unions to demand these draconian anti-strike laws should be repealed as not having a right to strike for most workers has been ruled to be a human rights violation by the International Labor Organization.

In the UK and France, there has been a huge wave of strikes recently.

The UK:

Up to half a million British teachers, civil servants, and train drivers walked out over pay in the largest coordinated strike action for a decade on Wednesday, with unions threatening more disruption as the government digs its heels in over pay demands.

The mass walkouts across the country shut schools, halted most rail services, and forced the military to be put on standby to help with border checks on a day dubbed "Walkout Wednesday".

France:

A third day of strikes and mass street demonstrations has taken place across France in opposition to Emmanuel Macron’s unpopular plan to raise the pension age to 64, after the government faced shouting and booing in parliament as lawmakers began debating the bill.

The government said 757,000 people took part in more than 200 street demonstrations on Tuesday. The figure was lower than two previous demonstrations in recent weeks. Trains and urban transport were severely disrupted, and one in five flights at Paris Orly airport were cancelled. Some schools closed as teachers joined the strike. Students also blocked several university buildings across the country.

Polls continue to show that a majority of French people disapprove of Macron’s plan to raise the retirement age to 64 and to increase the number of years people must make contributions for a full pension. The current retirement age of 62 is the lowest of any big European economy.

In NYC, we had contract Teach-ins last week. I guess it's something. 

10 comments:

Pencilsdown said...

If our paras received a 40% raise I would become one immediately. And I mean literally as soon as possible.

BxT said...

In 05' I was a para in New England. My salary was 11k. The district paid more in health insurance premiums than salary!

I left for the Fellows in NY where starting teacher pay was in the 40s.

Justin said...

If we got a 40% raise, we would max out around 85k. In NYC terms, we would finally have a liveable wage. Personally, I feel we should absolutely receive at least 80k.

John Q. Teacher said...

James, I am curious if your wife who ran for UFT president is active these days in union politics? Good to see that Jia Lee still active these days. We gotta start thinking ahead to the next UFT election battle and I can see a few possible strong candidates. (Jonathan H. for example)

liberals=ccp2323 said...

EARTH TO JAMES! THAT IS WHAT I AND MANY OTHER OF YOUR COMMENTERS HAVE BEEN SAYING FOREVER!

AS WELL AS EVERYONE STOP PAYING DUES, WAKE UP!

James Eterno said...

Not sure of your first point Anon 2323.

James Eterno said...

John Q, My wife is still a Delegate at her school. We are still active in UFT politics.

Julie said...

I am not someone who endorses strikes, and it’s disappointing that it has to get to this point. I am so nervous that we will still not receive livable wages while being employed. Our retirement is 67, and who knows it might raise again.

Johnny Change said...

I don't think it is right to keep all the members in dark during contract talk.
Members should be able to participate.





Pencilsdown said...

Don't paras max out around $42k? A 40% raise would only put them at about $58k.