On January 19, Fig City News received this open letter from a group of Newton parent-teacher organizations. The letter concludes with a call on the Mayor “to fully fund the Newton Public Schools and for all parties to bargain in good faith to end this strike immediately.” On January 20,…
Posts published in January 2024
The Newton Teachers Association (NTA) voted to strike on Thursday, January 18. In response, hundreds of their members, Newton high school students, parents, and city residents responded to an NTA rally – in 30-degree weather – at 1PM on Friday, January 19 (see press release). Supporters flooded the Newton War…
School Committee and NTA hold first mediation session since January 8. On the evening of January 19, the Newton Public Schools community received two updates on the NPS/NTA negotiations: an update from the School Committee’s negotiation team and an update from the Mayor. The School Committee’s update informed the NPS…
Following the Department of Labor Relation’s ruling late yesterday, Middlesex County Superior Court has issued a preliminary injunction in favor of the Newton School Committee. The text of the injunction ruling reads: Preliminary Injunction issued for Plaintiff Commonwealth Employment Relations Board. It is ordered and adjudged that Defendants(s) Newton Teachers…
Ruling establishes fact of illegal strike, however State Superior Court would impose potential penalties. The Massachusetts Commonwealth Employment Relations Board (“CERB”) issued a ruling that the Newton Teacher’s Association (“NTA”) and the employees it represents, prior to their vote on January 18 “are about to engage in a strike in…
On January 19, 2024, after months of unsettled educator contract negotiations with the Newton School Committee, the Newton Teachers Association announced a strike. The sudden shut down of schools presents challenges for students, families, and the community, and parents may struggle with how to explain what’s happening to their children.…
On January 18, a reported 98% of the membership of the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) voted to go on strike starting on January 19 until a contract is reached with the Newton School Committee. NTA president Mike Zilles made the announcement on the steps of City Hall’s War Memorial Auditorium,…
As a potential strike by the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) looms Friday, parents fed up with stalled contract negotiations rallied outside of City Hall on Wednesday morning, to make their voices heard. “Staff morale is abysmally low,” said Alison Lobron, an organizer with the Newton Parent/Educator Collaborative who spoke at…
On January 18, a group of 22 City Councilors sent an open letter to the Newton Public Schools community ahead of the vote by the membership of the Newton Teachers Association, expected later in the day, on whether or not to strike. The letter calls for “an immediate return to…
On January 17, the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) published a response to the NPS slides and discussion points presented by School Committee Chair Chris Brezski at a question-and-answer session held by NPS with PTO leaders and the public on January 16 (see Fig City News article on that session). Among…