Haverhill teachers voted yesterday to begin working in public school buildings today as ordered, but say they are doing so against their better judgement.
Haverhill Education Association President Anthony J. Parolisi told WHAV News the union still has four major concerns—ranging from receiving a timely HVAC assessment report to “risking the health of all students and staff when a safe alternative exists” such as remote learning.
“Our members discussed the current status of negotiations—what challenges we are still facing—and we had a robust discussion about all of our options. Ultimately, the members voted to enter the buildings, but do so under duress,” he said.
In a letter addressed to Mayor James J. Fiorentini and Superintendent Margaret Marotta, Parolisi wrote, union members “will not be congregating in any common areas or attending any in-person meetings. We will be working from our workspace in the remote capacity we have been all week.”
The union has another scheduled “impact bargaining” session with the School Committee this afternoon.