Woburn teachers continue strike despite legal order to return to classes – Boston News, Weather, Sports

WOBURN, MASS. (WHDH) – Woburn teachers are on strike Tuesday for the second straight day despite a legal order to return to classes.

News of the second day of school came after teachers gathered outside City Hall on Monday, with hundreds of people holding signs and cheering as traffic rolled by – all part of an effort to find a new contract as school officials reached out after negotiations the courts turned to an impasse.

At the same time, an injunction was filed in court, naming the Woburn Teachers Association as a defendant. After arguments were put forward in court late in the afternoon, the responsible judge issued a ruling late Monday evening ordering teachers back to class – although the school was still canceled due to the uncertainty.

“Personally, I’m ready to stand with my brothers and sisters in this union and fight for what we believe is right,” said teacher Christy Nickerson when asked if she was willing to continue the strike in the face of a court order .

The mayor of Woburn told 7NEWS he felt the city made the educators a fair offer, including a more than 10 percent pay rise for teachers over three years. He said the teachers asked for more.

“Unfortunately, teachers will continue their illegal strike tomorrow, it’s illegal and it’s very disruptive to the children, it’s disruptive to families,” Mayor Scott Galvin said Monday night.

The teachers also asked the city to negotiate a new contract for paraprofessionals at the same time as the teacher interviews, stating that the current starting salary for paraprofessionals is approximately $22,000.

They’re fighting to raise that base salary to $27,000.

The city, meanwhile, argues that paraprofessional contracts have always been negotiated separately.

Though school is canceled, free lunches are being offered at Woburn Public Schools from 11am to 1pm

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