Mary M. Bourque and Glenn Koocher

Today, 20 public schools on the North Shore remain closed. Ordinarily, on a weekday in November, these schools would be bustling with the sights and sounds of students from preschool through high school engaged in learning and enrichment. Instead, nearly 10,000 students are out of school — deprived of classroom instruction, science experiments, art projects, concert rehearsals, athletic practices and games, college counseling, and more. And it’s not because of severe weather or another global pandemic. Their schools are closed because educators’ unions in Beverly, Gloucester, and Marblehead have walked off the job to accelerate contract negotiations.

In Massachusetts, strikes by public employees are illegal. That law was passed more than 50 years ago, primarily for public safety reasons. Just as residents would be at risk if police officers or firefighters refused to work, many students are vulnerable when teachers go on strike, particularly students from working families who have no alternative supervision when children are unexpectedly home from school. Massachusetts is one of 39 states where strikes by public employees are illegal because of the unnecessary disruption and risks they create.

As leaders of the statewide professional associations for superintendents and school committees, we are deeply concerned by a pattern that has emerged across the Commonwealth during contract negotiations. In the past, district officials and union leaders remained at the bargaining table — and remained on the job — to reach an agreement on even the most contentious points. Strikes and other work stoppages were a last resort. Today, local union leaders are more likely to initiate job actions, including work-to-rule, votes of no confidence, and walkouts, much earlier in the process. When contract talks become stalled, union leaders are less inclined to pursue consensus through legally sanctioned channels, such as mediation. Instead, they opt for the most drastic step — halting instruction and support — to force districts to concede to their demands.

We’re also seeing the long-term impact of these highly contentious negotiations, particularly when they lead to employee strikes. Administrators, teachers, parents, students, and others will attest to the lasting scars in divided communities, even after the strikes end and contracts are ratified. The damage extends beyond the loss of learning time, often leaving a profoundly negative impact on district culture and relationships. Ultimately, it is our students who suffer when the adults remain at odds.

Striking union leaders often argue that district officials’ unwillingness to meet their salary demands signals a lack of respect for teachers, paraprofessionals, and other employees. This tactic distracts residents from the economic realities underlying these negotiations. Superintendents and school committees have deep respect for the educators who serve students and families. They understand the importance of providing competitive salaries and benefits and recognize the need to offer compensation packages comparable to surrounding districts to attract and retain an outstanding workforce. In all three North Shore districts currently on strike, school committees have proposed significant pay increases for teachers and paraprofessionals. At the same time, district leaders cannot agree to contracts that will create multi-year deficits for their cities and towns. They are obligated to taxpayers to negotiate contracts that compensate employees fairly while balancing budgets with limited resources.

We understand that each community’s contract negotiations come with unique contexts and circumstances. Like the superintendents and school committees we represent, we respect labor unions’ right to advocate for fair wages, benefits, and working conditions. Collective bargaining remains a cornerstone of the public workforce in Massachusetts. However, we believe that both parties can and should continue to negotiate in good faith, remain at the bargaining table, and demonstrate a mutual willingness to compromise — all while continuing to provide a first-rate public education to the students and families we serve.

Mary M. Bourque, Ed.D., is executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents. Glenn Koocher is executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.