Medford

The Medford Teachers Association bargaining team negotiated a tentative agreement for a new contract in 1994, but the association membership failed to ratify it in August and pushed for a better deal. The members increased their actions in support of a new tentative agreement by demonstrating at City Hall on Oct. 3.

On Oct. 7, before the start of school, the association held a membership meeting at a local American Legion Post. The superintendent of schools learned that none of the 99 Medford High School teachers had reported to work at 7:45 a.m. that day. When they did arrive at 8:30, 45 minutes late, nearly half of all high school students had left.

The state found that this work stoppage was a strike and issued a “cease and desist” order.