Classes canceled in Mass. city with teachers strike expected - WCVB Boston

The Haverhill School Committee says Monday's classes are canceled successful the Massachusetts metropolis aft it was not capable to scope an statement connected a caller declaration with the Haverhill Education Association, paving the mode for a teachers strike.The School Committee said it spent hours astatine the negotiating array with the teachers national implicit the play successful the hopes of avoiding a onslaught aft HEA members overwhelmingly voted successful favour of authorizing a onslaught connected Friday.In their declaration negotiations, Haverhill educators person said they are seeking higher pay, smaller people sizes and safer schoolhouse environments.While schoolhouse volition beryllium closed to students connected Monday, the School Committee said buildings volition beryllium unfastened and each employees are expected to study to work.Teacher strikes are amerciable successful Massachusetts since authorities instrumentality prohibits strikes by nationalist employees, which makes them exceptionally uncommon successful the commonwealth."If they travel to the array with a bully deal, our squad volition motion it. I anticipation it's tonight," said Barry Davis, 1st vice president of the Haverhill Education Association. "But if we person to beryllium connected the (picket) enactment tomorrow, we volition be."Members of the Haverhill School Committee said they person offered teachers the biggest rise metropolis educators person had successful 20 years, but added that the Massachusetts Teachers Association wants the teachers to spell connected strike."While immoderate advancement was made implicit the past fewer days, we are highly disappointed that national enactment and the Massachusetts Teachers Association has encouraged our teachers to instrumentality this amerciable action," reads a connection from the Haverhill Negotiations Subcommittee.The School Committee said that it, on with the Massachusetts Labor Relations Board, are asking a Salem Superior Court justice to contented a junction against the Haverhill Education Association for its strike.Negotiations volition prime up astatine 8 a.m. Monday, according to the School Committee.Haverhill students who person entree to a escaped schoolhouse luncheon connected Monday and escaped meal connected Tuesday tin get nutrient astatine the pursuing locations from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.:The Haverhill YMCA, 81 Winter StreetThe Boys and Girls Club of Greater Haverhill, 55 Emerson StreetSwasey Field Park, 59 Blaisdell StreetHaverhill Stadium, Lincoln and NettletonHaverhill Public Works Department - Parking Lot, 500 Primrose StreetWinnekenni Castle - Tennis courts - 347 Kenoza AvenueBradford CommonsCashman’s Park connected Hilldale AvenueIn addition, the Haverhill YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Haverhill volition beryllium unfastened Monday for children who are presently enrolled successful their programs.Parents of children who are registered for before-school oregon after-school programs astatine the YMCA volition person an email straight from the YMCA regarding kid attraction operations, including a full-day programme from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.Parents of children who are not registered for YMCA programs but are enrolled successful grades K-4 tin motion up for a drop-in programme astatine the Plaistow Community YMCA successful New Hampshire from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Preregistration is required successful advance.Haverhill students who are members of the section Boys and Girls Club are invited to driblet successful astatine immoderate clip Monday betwixt the hours of 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.Negotiations successful Malden continueIn Malden, educators besides overwhelmingly approved an authorization to onslaught successful a ballot held Friday afternoon.Members of the Malden Education Association, however, were inactive negotiating with the Malden School Committee arsenic of Sunday night.MEA President Deb Gesualdo said that Sunday's negotiations marked the astir dialog teachers person had with the School Committee, arsenic some sides began negotiating astatine 9 a.m. with nary deadline connected erstwhile talks could wrapper up.Malden educators are besides seeking higher pay, smaller people sizes and safer schoolhouse environments.