Teachers unions  in Beverly and Gloucester, Massachusetts began the strike on November 8, 2024 and were joined by teachers from the Marblehead union on November 10. The goal of this strike as explained by educators from all three unions is to increase wages for teachers and paraprofessionals, gain paid parental leave, and to bring attention to disrespect in the workplace. Since the strike, affected schools have been closed, keeping students at home until negotiations reach an agreement. Since striking is illegal in Massachusetts, the unions are facing considerable fees that will continue until teachers return to the classroom. As the strikes continued into their third week, local news outlets reported on the event, each taking a different approach to framing the ongoing issue. 

The Boston 7 WHDH video news release titled “Teachers Strike”, takes place two weeks into the strike and frames the strike as the result of a disagreement between two sides: district/school board and teacher union. The news release demonstrates “teachers making their message heard” (WHDH, 2024) through footage within the communities at various rallies, a candlelight vigil, and  several clips of speeches given by union representatives expressing the importance of the needs of the educators. The district is framed as purposefully dragging out negotiations, demonstrating more concern to save money than to have kids in school.  The news report concludes with an interview of Boston Governor Maura Healy during which she states “I really really strongly encourage the sides to work this out in each of the communities and let’s get these kids back in school”(WHDH, 2024). 

The following day, Boston News 25 televised their video news release titled “ North Shore Teacher Strikes’, reporting primarily from GLoucester school district. The video opens with a press release clip of Kathy Clancy, the Gloucester School Committee Chair stating,  “For days we have heard about children who are suffering greatly”, continuing tearfully she adds, “We’ve heard about parents who are missing out on wages because they have to choose between watching their children or working” (Boston 25 News, 2024).  The televised report and accompanying article frequently use the phrase “tensions are high” when describing the negotiations between the teacher unions and Gloucester school board. As the strikes have continued, schools remained closed for two full weeks, evoking warnings from state officials and fines of $10,000 a day for the teachers unions. Despite the fines and pressure, the report includes a news report ending with a statement by the co-president of the Glucoster union saying “in order for school to open tomorrow, we need a fair deal” (Boston 25 News, 2024). 

Both news outlets present the strikes as having two sides: teacher union and school district boards, while framing the students and parents as the victims. However, each news outlet presents the “facts” in ways that slightly favors one side, especially seen in the visual choices and themes in the footage presented. Boston 7 News includes mainly footage of the teacher union representatives presenting their case, and accompanying footage of the communities supporting them and the district refusing to provide comment. In contrast, Boston 25 News coverage of the Goucoster district takes on a more emotional approach as presented by the school board, implying that the union strikes are continuing despite attempts to negotiate, ultimately leading to negative consequences for students. 

Which side are you on?