Judge Orders End To Newton Teachers Strike; Pols Support Union Action

NEWTON, MA — Newton teachers have until Sunday afternoon to call off their strike or risk fines after a Middlesex Superior Court judge filed an injunction against the union representing them on the first full day of their work stoppage on Friday.

The judge said that the Newton Teachers Association has until Sunday at 3 p.m. to cancel the strike or it will be found in violation of the law that prohibits teacher strikes in Massachusetts.

Newton teachers voted Thursday afternoon to walk off the job effective Friday morning after the union said 98 percent of its membership voted in favor of the strike. Teachers, with support from some parents and students, hit the picket lines during the morning and held a rally in the afternoon while schools were closed and all extracurricular activities were canceled.

(Also on Patch: 'Heartbroken': Newton Schools Shuttered On First Day Of Teacher Strike)

Newton teachers remained defiant Friday afternoon as U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, as well as U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, issued statements of support of their action.

"As a former public school teacher, I know how hard our teachers and educators work," Warren said. "Newton teachers are asking for a contract that recognizes that hard work and invests in their schools and students. I urge the Newton School Committee to negotiate with urgency and come to and come to an agreement so that the teachers get wages, benefits, and working conditions they deserve and students can return to the classroom."

The Newton School Committee issued a statement on Thursday that it wants the NTA to "end this strike and work with us in a serious and meaningful way to settle this contract."

"The NTA can end this strike at any time and educators can return to the classroom," the School Committee statement said. "We ask them to do exactly that so that students do not continue to experience disruption to their educational experience."

Newton Public Schools offered "grab-and-go" breakfast and lunch pickup for students in need on Friday in a manner similar to the distribution during the COVID-19 health crisis.

All school days missed due to the strike will have to be made up at some point during this academic year.

Superintendent Anna Nolin said that all school activities, including athletic contests and practices, fine arts clubs and community education, and after-school programs, will be canceled for the duration of the strike.

"We have deep respect for the dedication of our educators and the work they do in the classroom every day in service to our students," the School Committee statement said. "We look forward to settling this contract swiftly so that our students can return to their routines."