Beverly
Reneging on contract leads to Beverly strike
The rally really made a difference. It let us know that we didn’t stand alone. It also showed us that what we were doing was important not only to ourselves, but to colleagues in similar situations.
In the fall of 1993 members of the Beverly Teachers Association were incensed when the School Committee announced it would refuse to honor the salary increase in the third year of the previously ratified BTA contract.
On Nov. 4, nearly all the teachers struck and many took to the picket lines. The Boston Globe noted that this was the first teachers’ strike in Beverly’s 350-year history.
On day three of the five-day strike, spirits were lifted when some 400 parents and educators from locals near and far rallied to support BTA members. The School Committee ultimately offered the teachers and Education Support Professionals a contract they could ratify, including raises, an early retirement incentive, longevity pay increases and benefit hikes for ESPs.
Additional Photos
