(James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio)
DEDHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — After a year of working without a contract, teachers in Dedham took to the picket line Friday.
School was cancelled Friday as the Dedham Education Association went on strike.
This is the first public teacher's strike in Massachusetts since 2007.
The union is looking to renegotiate on issues including health insurance, as well as policies on student cell phone usage and protection from sexual harassment.
The strike has been ruled illegal by the Department of Labor Relations, but Tim Dwyer, with the Dedham Education Association, said they had no choice but to strike as they have entered a second year without a contract.
“We understood that there were possible terrible consequences, but we need justice,” Dwyer said. “Unfortunately to make progress, sometimes you have to push forward even with risk.”
The teacher’s union faces fines for carrying out the strike, but leaders say they will continue for as long as they have to.
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