04/03/2023
✊🏼 HTF ✊🏼
Essex Tech Teachers Vote No-Confidence in Superintendent, School Committee Chair!
The members of the Hathorne Teachers Federation (HTF), the union which represents more than 160 teachers at Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School in Danvers (ENSATS), today approved a vote of no-confidence in Superintendent-Director Dr. Heidi Riccio and School Committee Chairman Mark Strout of Marblehead.
The motion, which was approved nearly unanimously by the rank-and-file membership of the Union, specifically cited the District’s repeated attempts to intimidate, coerce, and bully union leaders, activists, and supporters during the union’s ongoing contract bargaining process.
“The intimidation tactics from management have continued throughout this process,” said David Hickock, an English teacher at ENSATS. “The Superintendent and the School Committee Chair have said specifically that their intention is not to harm teachers, but their actions have shown that those words are meaningless. Their intent is crystal clear - they want to hurt us until we do what they want.”
Union members have used negotiations to highlight the pervasive culture of fear that is felt at the school level, from teachers to parents and students. The school committee and district leadership has failed to heed or act upon the concerns raised by teachers, parents, and students.
“My child decided to attend Essex Tech because of the fantastic resources that the school has to support students - an incredible facility, a wide-array of career and technical education, and dedicated, expert teachers,” said Ellen Finn, a Salem resident and parent of an Essex Tech senior. “The atmosphere in the building, the decision making of the administration, and the grinding conditions on teachers, however, have negatively impacted the learning condition of my child and their classmates.”
In response to continued intimidation of Union activists and supporters, roughly 300 students walked out of class on March 13th to demonstrate their solidarity and support for their teachers. The Union has filed multiple unfair labor practice charges with the state department of labor, alleging that the district has attempted to intimidate Union members and supporters.
“During my time as a student, I was in awe of the dedication and expertise of each and every teacher that I encountered, and I am crushed that the school’s leaders have put them in a position where they feel as though this step is necessary,” said Sabrina Markham, an alumni who expressed support of the Union’s vote.
“After close to a year of negotiations, we have nearly reached a contract agreement. At the last moment, the Superintendent has attempted to intimidate and retaliate against our union by targeting our Union president for discipline,” said Arlyssa Laporte, a Biotechnology CTAE teacher at ENSATS. “An injury to one is an injury to all and we are committed to standing up for one another.”
Through their vote of no-confidence, the Union is calling for accountability on the part of the Superintendent-Director and School Committee Chair, a commitment not to discipline teachers for organizing, and the creation of a school culture that is free from bullying, intimidation, and union-busting.
HTF members will gather before school on Monday April 3rd at 7am to protest the fear, intimidation, bullying, and coercion they face, and to demand that ENSATS district leaders settle their contract without threats of discipline towards union members.
