Attleboro

An eight-day strike in Attleboro in September 1986 was triggered in part by a novel — and to teachers unacceptable — proposal by the School Committee that the district’s contribution to employee health insurance be frozen forever at the dollar amount paid by the district that year. If approved, it would have meant that future salary increases would be eaten up rapidly by rising health insurance costs.

The teachers were also concerned about inadequate resources for students. MTA spokesperson Steve Wollmer was quoted by United Press International saying, “Students have been sharing books, some so old they predicted man would land on the moon one day.” The Apollo 11 moon landing had occurred 17 years earlier.

Judge George Jacobs imposed fines of $2,000 a day on the Attleboro Education Association and, according to MTA Today, he spoke out publicly against the state’s collective bargaining law at the hearing on the fines. Some members of the School Committee said they wanted to fire all the teachers.

The striking teachers resisted the pressure until finally reaching a settlement that provided them with raises, retained existing health benefits and, for the first time, guaranteed adequate textbooks for students.