Malden teachers strike for fair compensation

10/21/22 By Emily Bontatibus

MALDEN– The teachers strike in Malden, Massachusetts ended Wednesday with a tentative agreement on a new contract by the school committee and education association.

Schools shut down on Monday as teachers in the Malden Public School system walked in picket lines to protest wages, WCVB reported. The Malden Education Association and Malden School Committee failed to reach a deal regarding compensation for eleven hours during a negotiation.

Educators in Malden have asked for smaller class sizes, higher pay and safer school environments. 

Students resumed classes on Tuesday with satisfied teachers. MEA President Deb Gesualdo expressed her excitement now that the deal was over, happy that “we all have mutual commitments to our students and to our community.” She also suggests that everyone involved must need a “good night’s sleep” after the negotiations. 

Superintendent Ligia Noriega-Murphy stated that she is thrilled to provide “teachers and other educators with competitive compensation for the incredibly important work they perform every day.”

This strike inspired members of the Haverhill School Committee to also contract negotiations with their education association.  Haverhill teachers reached a tentative deal with the Committee Thursday, with schools reopening Friday.