I would like to voice my concern with regards to the teacher strike in Woburn and others that have occurred across the state. It’s negligent to use children as bargaining tools when they are all behind in learning due to the three-year pandemic. Not to mention the inconvenience to working parents, children with accommodation plans, and added inconsistency. It is certainly not in their best interest to be out of the classroom.
Considering this issue, I wanted to express my appreciation to the Marlborough Educators Association and all Marlborough public-school staff. We have been able to negotiate in good faith with professional union leadership throughout my 11 years as Mayor of Marlborough. I am proud and appreciative of how we all worked and supported each other during the trying times faced by the pandemic, and I look forward to the continued collaboration while making sure our students always come first.
As a nation, we all are faced with labor shortages across all major industries that is affecting distribution channels, supply, and demand. In the municipal world, it’s highly competitive and challenging to keep our staff in place while providing services and attract qualified professionals to fill vacant positions.
My understanding is Mayor Galvin is offering a fair and competitive proposal while running the city and remaining fiscally responsible for all Woburn residents. Municipalities across the Commonwealth must work within their means by balancing all necessary expenses in conjunction with raising salaries and increased benefit costs that affect the annual budget and will continue to affect taxpayers in years to come.
Perhaps it is time to discuss merit pay and bonuses based on student achievement.
Sincerely,
Arthur G. Vigeant
Mayor and Chair of the Marlborough School Committee
