Sharon

Sharon teachers went on strike in January after 19 fruitless bargaining sessions. According to MTA Today, the major issues were inadequate salaries and a proposed new “skillful teacher” evaluation system that sought to require new uncompensated duties.

Prior to voting to go on strike, members of the Sharon Teachers Association brought their concerns to the wider community. On Christmas Eve, an editorial in the Sharon Advocate admonished, “Don’t think this is only a school problem, or the problem of parents who have school-aged children. A big part of the problem — the budgets — belong to the whole town.”

The four-day strike occurred despite the challenges of picketing after a snowstorm in subfreezing weather. An hour before the final bargaining session, nearly 500 Sharon parents, students and teachers marched outside the school administration building.

When the strike was over, the new contract included a pledge by the School Committee to work with the STA for an override of Proposition 2½ to raise revenue needed to finance salary increases. The STA also won guaranteed preparation time for elementary teachers. The contract did not include the “skillful teacher” evaluation system that the STA had opposed.