Striking Massachusetts teachers appeal to governor on Statehouse steps

BOSTON — Teachers from three striking unions rallied on the steps of the Massachusetts Statehouse on Tuesday, calling on lawmakers and Democratic Gov. “This strike was our last resort.” Healey said as the daughter of public school teachers and union members, she has an appreciation for educators and staff, but her focus is getting students back into the classroom. Last Tuesday, judges imposed a fine of $50,000 on the unions in Beverly and Gloucester that they said would increase by $10,000 for every day the teachers remained on strike. The Beverly Teachers Association has said it was pushing for smaller class sizes in the 4,500-student district, 12 weeks of paid parental leave and a “living wage” for paraprofessionals or teachers assistants whose starting salary is $20,000. Ruth Furlong, a special education teacher in Beverly for the past 10 years, said teachers understood that unions would face consequences, but said justice isn’t served by what she called “outright union-busting.” Furlong said by moving slowly on negotiations, school officials let enough time lapse to allow court-ordered fines to kick in.