Andover
Instructional Assistants win 34% increase in Andover strike
My mum is heading toward retirement, and I want her to have a chance, just a shot, at maybe retiring with some level of dignity that was not possible before.
The Andover Education Association started a “living wage” campaign for Instructional Assistants in 2020, but the School Committee did not budge until the local went on strike three years later, according to IA and bargaining team member Holly Currier.
Before the three-day strike that began on Nov. 9, the starting salary for IAs was $24,537 a year. Alarmed at how low that wage was, many Andover parents expressed support for the strike. When it was over, the starting salary for IAs rose to $39,142 over the four-year contract, a 34 percent increase. Top pay increased by almost $10,000, to $50,103.
Other Education Support Professionals in Andover also received significant raises, with amounts varying depending on their roles. Teacher pay increased by 15.5 percent over the four years.
In making the case for better pay, the AEA described how the role of IAs has changed significantly as students’ social, emotional and academic needs have grown. “The responsibilities grew,” said Karen Torres, an IA in Andover for 17 years. “The compensation did not. And the recognition did not.”
According to Brandon Truitt of WBZ-TV, “In addition to the salary increases, AEA members will receive eight weeks of fully paid parental leave and the option to use an additional four weeks of accrued sick time. The agreement also increased elementary teacher planning time and extended recess time for students.”
The AEA was fined $50,000 for the strike and the school year was extended by three days to make up for lost instructional time.
Two days after the Andover Education Association settled its contract following a five-day strike in November, an Instructional Assistant gave birth to twins. Before the contract was settled, she had no paid parental leave, and was anxiously hoping she could rely on family members to help care for her newborns and toddler while she went back to work after draining her sick leave. But thanks to the contract the union fought for, she had access to eight weeks of paid leave in addition to her sick days.
