Beverly Teachers To Suspend 'Voluntary' Work Amid Contract Impasse

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly teachers will join unions in Gloucester, Marblehead and Revere on Friday in suspending all non-contractually obligated work amid a negotiation impasse on a new collective bargaining agreement.

The North Shore Educators United consortium of regional teachers unions said on Thursday that the "work-to-rule" action means teachers will suspend "voluntary" activities that most commit to as part of their job without necessarily getting extra pay — including providing after-school assistance, writing newsletters, chaperoning field trips and being on committees.

The Marblehead Education Association said it was commencing "work-to-rule" after its latest failed negotiation session on Monday, with the NSEU saying that both Beverly and Gloucester teachers had voted 99 percent to do so as well.

The action is a protest to stalled contract negotiations and demonstrates how much educators routinely give beyond what is required of them, according to the NSEU.

Educators in all four communities will begin their days with standouts in front of schools and then report together when the school day begins, then leave the buildings when the school day concludes each day of the action.

Sticking points in contract negotiations in all four districts include pay increases, a "living wage" for all staff, paid parental leave, small class sizes and longer lunch and recess time for the youngest learners.

The Beverly Teachers Association was scheduled for their next bargaining session on Thursday.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)