Although the Teachers Strike continues, and schools will remain closed on January 25, the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) and School Committee each said, in separate press conferences at the end of January 24, that they had made real progress in their negotiations – and gaps remain. Key points: NTA President…
Posts published in “Negotiations”
The teachers strike continues, and schools remain closed at least through January 24. New information includes a comprehensive proposal document from the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) and a spreadsheet prepared by Newton Public Schools (NPS) comparing the stances of the NTA versus NPS. During the bargaining session on Monday, January…
On Tuesday, January 22, Newton Teachers Association President Mike Zilles sent Fig City News this response to the analysis that former Newton School Committee Chair Matt Hills had provided to Fig City News the previous day.
On January 22, at the end of the fourth consecutive day of negotiations, the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) and the School Committee again held separate press conferences. The Teachers Strike remains in effect, and schools will remain closed for a third day, on Tuesday, January 23. The NTA presented a…
Late in the afternoon of January 22, the Middlesex Superior Court issued a ruling on the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board (CERB) motion of civil contempt order submitted earlier in the day. This motion was filed because the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) did not comply with the Court’s ruling to call…
This weekend, Fig City News discussed the dynamics surrounding the current Newton Teachers Strike with Newton resident Matt Hills. A former member of the Newton School Committee (2010-2018; Chair 2014-2017), Hills is currently Vice Chair of the Board of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Interview notes are…
On the evening of January 21, the Newton Public Schools announced that “the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) and the Newton School Committee failed to reach agreement on a new contract. The NTA has informed us that the strike will continue and therefore, school is canceled for Monday, January 22.” Both the…
After the Newton School Committee and Newton Teachers Association (NTA) negotiating teams met for nine hours on January 20, each issued a statement. The next negotiation session is scheduled for Sunday, January 21, 10AM-7PM. School Committee Statement The Newton School Committee’s statement provided charts comparing the NPS proposals with peer…
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,…
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…







