Massachusetts Teachers Association Seeks Right to Legally Strike

It is illegal for public school teachers in Massachusetts to strike. They do it anyway, and as we have seen in recent years, it is happening more frequently.

Public school teachers in Marlborough, Beverly and Gloucester took to the picket lines last year alone.

The Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations says, "Section 9A(a) of the Law prohibits public employees and employee organizations from striking or inducing, encouraging or condoning a work stoppage by public employees."

The "dos and don'ts" are clearly outlined on the Department's website.

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New Bedford Public School Teachers staged illegal strikes in 1968 and 1975. Six teachers were jailed at the Bristol County House of Corrections in 1975 for defying a back-to-work order from a judge.

The Massachusetts Teachers Association, of which the New Bedford Educators Association is an affiliate, has unsuccessfully tried to pass legislation that would legalize teacher strikes.

Boston.com reported in 2023, "The legislation would allow unions to legally strike after six months of failed negotiations with their employers."

Boston 25 News reports the MTA is "working on legislation to make teacher strikes legal after six months of negotiations."

The station quotes MTA president Max Page, "We believe this legislation will help have fewer strikes, we really believe that we should have a system that allows for this basic human and labor right."

The MTA says, "There have been 55 strikes by MTA locals over the past 55 years, distributed unevenly in ebbs and flows."

Salary and benefits are generally at the heart of most teacher contracts, although contract language is often a sticking point in reaching an agreement.