Woburn
‘Woburn Four’ are first MTA members jailed for striking
Jails are stupid. They could keep me here for a couple of months, I suppose. But I don’t think I’d stop believing what I did was right.
In 1970, just five years after municipal employees were granted the right to bargain collectively, the Woburn Teachers Association became the second MTA local in history to strike during an instructional day.
Co-secretary of the local, Janet Bellizia, said in an interview for MTA’s “Our Legacy Project” that “we were fighting for textbooks (to eliminate sharing), classes for students who did not speak English, specialty teachers (art, music, gym, library) and money.”
Bellizia and three other members of the WTA leadership, dubbed “the Woburn Four,” were jailed for two days and one night for striking. Arthur Hurley, president of the local, wrote in MTA Today, “I’m convinced we did the right thing. It is not comfortable breaking the law.”
Susan Brennan, co-secretary of the local, wrote in a journal shared with MTA Today after the strike was over: “Why did I go to jail? Because I really believe that your thoughts and deeds are results of conscience; I believe a person must feel deeply, honestly, sincerely that he or she is working for better education, that all possibilities of negotiation have been thoroughly exhausted.”
The worst thing about being here is not knowing what’s going on. Are all the schools in Woburn closed this morning? Will other people be brought in? Are we negotiating? What are our chances of getting out? I’ll stay just as long as it’s necessary to win, but I’m not putting in any extra time. I’m not that noble.
It’s all settled!!! The contract is great — six more special teachers. I can’t believe it! The teachers at the High School were great. I love everyone — what a welcome! Such a spirited group! Everyone is running around hugging and kissing — we’ve won a real battle!
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