Brookline, Natick Athletic Games Postponed Due To Teacher Strike

BROOKLINE, MA — Brookline and Natick athletic games have been postponed Monday due to a strike by members of the Brookline Educators Union (BEU) that forced Brookline schools to close.

According to a statement from Natick High Athletic Director Tim Collins, the games will be rescheduled over the next two days, as the two towns were scheduled to play against each other in tennis, lacrosse, baseball, and softball.

“With the strike imminent, we postponed games,” he said. “If there is no school because of the work stoppage, there cannot be games.”

Collins said he will assist in rescheduling the games this week, as Brookline’s Athletic Director Pete Rittenburg is not supposed to be working.

The Public Schools of Brookline announced Sunday that all schools would be closed Monday after the Brookline School Committee and the BEU could not reach an agreement on the teachers contract during its fourth mediation session Sunday afternoon.

Because BEU members authorized a strike for Monday if a new contact was not signed by Sunday night, the town made the decision to shutter its schools.

A fifth mediation session between the Brookline School Committee and the BEU is scheduled for Monday evening and additional closures will be announced by 6 a.m. Tuesday.