Newton Teachers Continue Illegal Strike Amid Legal and Public Debate

Teachers' union faces increasing fines as legislation to legalize public employee strikes is under review.

Teachers in Newton, Massachusetts have been on strike since January 18, 2024, causing a halt in all classes and activities in the city's 22 schools.
The strike is illegal under Massachusetts law, which prohibits public sector workers from striking. The law was passed in 1919.
Middlesex Superior Court Judge Christopher K. Barry-Smith has fined the teachers' union $475,000 so far, with an additional $50,000 set to be imposed daily.
Legislation was filed last year to legalize strikes for public employees in Massachusetts. The bill is currently under review by the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development.
Public opinion on the strike is divided, with some calling for the teachers to be fired if they do not return to work, while others argue that the teachers are challenging an unjust law.