Worcester educators rally at city hall, calling on district to negotiate contract and vaccinate staff
Updated Mar 04, 2021;
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The chant at Worcester City Hall was loud and consistent: “Negotiate. Vaccinate. Educate.”
Dozens of members of the Educational Association of Worcester rallied Thursday afternoon, saying they wanted to bring the negotiating table to city hall after working through the COVID-19 pandemic for months with expired contracts.
More than just wanting a fair contract, the educators were calling on officials for vaccinations. Though Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday that K-12 employees, early childcare workers and school staff will be eligible for vaccine appointments on March 11, there will be competition to get in line for a shot because of a limited vaccine supply. It means that many Worcester teachers and school staff will have to head back into classrooms for hybrid learning without inoculation.
Worcester educators union says school committee has walked away from bargaining table, plans to rally over expired contracts during COVID pandemic
Updated Mar 03, 2021;
The union says the Worcester School Committee has walked away from the bargaining table.
“The Worcester School Committee, Superintendent Maureen Binienda and their bargaining representative have caused unnecessary delays in bargaining successor contracts with EAW members,” the union wrote in a statement Wednesday. “At a scheduled bargaining session on Jan. 26, the School Committee’s bargaining team simply refused to show up. This is both disrespectful to hard-working educators and harmful to students.”
Union members plan to rally outside city hall from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Members will wear masks and keep a distance, the statement said.
Worcester Superintendent Maureen Binienda answers parent questions 2 weeks before students start hybrid learning masslive.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from masslive.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Half of Worcester Public Schools students opt-in for hybrid learning starting in March
Updated Feb 25, 2021;
Members of the Worcester School Committee on Thursday night listened to a highly detailed plan from Superintendent Maureen Binienda covering health and safety protocols for the district’s hybrid learning plan.
The superintendent listed process of ensuring students are safe from the moment they get onto the bus until they leave school for the day.
Worcester students are preparing to return to school next month to start hybrid learning after just about a year of learning online only during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As voted on by the committee earlier this month, students with the highest level of needs and New Citizens Center Program students are slated to return to classrooms on March 15. Then March 29 will be the return date for all other students.