Melrose Educators Plan March, Rally After Contracts Expire

MELROSE, MA — Melrose educators and a group of supporters plan to march from Melrose High School to Melrose City Hall on Thursday afternoon to protest the current state of union contract negotiations with the Melrose Public Schools.

The march is set to begin at 3 p.m. at Melrose High School. Participants will then walk to City Hall, where they plan to hold a rally, according to event announcements.

The schools and the Melrose Education Association (MEA) inked their previous contract for teachers to take effect in July of 2019. The contract, in part, drew on override funds approved by Melrose voters to offer a series of new provisions as noted in a press release at the time.

Parties later finalized a collective bargaining agreement for paraprofessionals, which took effect in July of last year.

Both agreements expired this year, though, leaving Melrose teachers and paraprofessionals without new contracts as they’ve kicked off the 2022-2023 school year in recent days.

The Melrose Education Association has already held recent gatherings as members call for “respect and a fair contract.”

The education association’s Thursday rally will then feature multiple speeches from state and local union leaders, among others.

Contract negotiations typically take place between unions and representatives of their district's School Committee.

Contacted on Wednesday, School Committee Chair Jen McAndrew noted that the terms and conditions of the previous Melrose Education Association contract will remain in place until parties reach a new agreement.

“MEA educators did receive their step increases, on schedule; and they will receive all longevity increases, on schedule,” McAndrew wrote in a statement to Patch.

“We look forward to a comprehensive, fair agreement that prioritizes the needs of students, educators and the community,” she continued. “We believe this is fully achievable.”

See more information on Thursday's planned Melrose Education Association event here.