“Enough is enough!” the crowd chanted outside City Hall Friday afternoon, over and over.
“Enough is enough!”
By 1:30 p.m., that crowd stood a dozen rows deep and was estimated by some to be almost 2,000 people—Newton teachers and their supporters as the teacher union strike raged on through its first full day, schools throughout every village remained shuttered and union leaders sat at the negotiating table with school officials and lawyers indoors.
“City leaders in the past trusted educators and they understood that we advocated for our students,” Angier Elementary School teacher Fran Rametta said. “We continue to do that.”
In addition to teachers and student speakers, the rally included rousing comments from leaders of teachers unions in Greater Boston and Max Page, president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association.
“It’s cold, but my heart is warm, because this is so inspiring, to see you all here!” Page said.
Teachers have worked without a contract for several months, as tensions have risen and the Newton Teachers Association mount pressure on Mayor Ruthanne Fuller to allow more money to go toward teachers and school staff now.