Gloucester Strike Ends, Beverly and Marblehead Continue

After a 15-day strike, the Gloucester teachers' union and city officials reached a tentative agreement, allowing classes to resume on November 25. The agreement includes significant improvements in teacher and paraprofessional pay and a new paid parental leave policy, with teachers set to receive a 14% wage increase over four years and a seven-week fully paid parental leave benefit. The strike, which highlighted issues of underpayment and working conditions, marked one of the most substantial victories for Gloucester educators in decades. While Gloucester has reached an agreement, similar strikes continue in Beverly and Marblehead, where negotiations are ongoing. Massachusetts law deems teacher strikes illegal, and fines were temporarily suspended to facilitate negotiations. Local government officials, including Governor Maura Healey, have urged quick resolutions, highlighting the impact on students' education.