Quincy

While there were 10 strikes in 1987 alone, in the 23 years from 1996 through 2018 there were only three: a one-day strike in Shrewsbury, three partial-day work stoppages in Dedham and, the most contentious, a four-day strike in Quincy.

One likely reason for the relative calm was that state funding for public schools became more robust, largely due to increased state education funding under the 1993 Education Reform Act.

For both Dedham and Quincy, the biggest concern was each district’s attempt to significantly shift health insurance costs from the district to the employees. Health insurance costs were rising rapidly across the state and cost-shifting was taking place in many municipalities.

In Quincy, the School Committee had proposed doubling the employees’ share of health insurance premiums, from 10 percent to 20 percent, and to only partially offset that expense with a modest raise. The Quincy Education Association calculated that in short order this plan would amount to a pay cut for members.

Building Captain Janice Sullivan told MTA Today that QEA members “understand that health insurance is in trouble across the state, and we’re willing to pay more. But taking a pay cut is unacceptable.”

The QEA reported that the strike had 100 percent participation by the teachers and that paraprofessionals, secretaries, custodians and bus drivers honored the picket lines.

The final agreement represented a compromise. The members received raises totaling 17 percent over five years, while the new 80/20 health insurance split was phased in over three steps rather than over two, as the district had originally proposed.

The local was fined $100,000 for the strike.