News: The people have spoken on teacher strikes

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

The people have spoken on teacher strikes

Mar 21, 2023

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STRIKING CONTRAST — Gov. Maura Healey thinks teachers shouldn’t be allowed to strike. Her constituents say otherwise.

Two-thirds of likely voters support letting public school teachers strike for higher wages and better working conditions, according to newly released data from a Change Research poll for Northwind Strategies.

— Of that 67-percent majority, 45 percent “strongly support” legalizing the practice and 21 percent “somewhat support" it. Twenty-nine percent of respondents opposed it.

Support is even higher among Healey’s political base: 82 percent of Biden voters and 85 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents support teacher strikes.

— By contrast, just 34 percent of Trump voters and 39 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents support the idea. The survey of 711 likely 2024 voters was conducted in late February and has a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points.

The poll is good news for the state's two big teachers unions, which are pushing revamped bills on Beacon Hill that would allow some public employees to strike after six months of contract negotiations.

But Healey remains a hindrance. The governor went against the unions that backed her campaign when she said last month that she's “not a fan” of legalizing teacher strikes. A Healey spokesperson told Playbook that while the governor "is a strong supporter of unions and the right to collectively bargain," her "focus is on keeping kids in school" and she "does not believe right to strike legislation is the solution."

Yet public pressure is building on Beacon Hill to act. Educators have walked off the job in Woburn, Haverhill, Brookline and Malden over the past year as their contract negotiations stalled, in some cases incurring hefty fines to stay on the picket lines. Melrose teachers also authorized a strike, but were able to broker a deal before it happened.

Districts are bracing for more unrest. In the past week, teachers in Wellesley and Quincy voted no confidence in their municipal leaders over contract impasses.

“Educators never want to go on strike,” Max Page, the Massachusetts Teachers Association president, told Playbook. But, drained by the pandemic and facing escalating inflation, they've been exercising that “last resort” as they fight for higher salaries, better working conditions and better benefits.

More contract disputes = more headlines = more thorny questions for the state's top pols that could help unions force the issue on Beacon Hill.

"There hasn't been this level of conversation about it before," AFT Massachusetts President Beth Kontos said.

But public opinion doesn't always matter on Beacon Hill. "I'm not terribly hopeful that we'll move them," Kontos said of Healey and Democratic legislative leaders. "We just have to keep engaging."

GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Taken as a whole, the Change Research poll shows broad support for a swath of progressive policies, including rent control and a $20 minimum wage, that aim to put more money in people's pockets.

“It’s a reflection of the current economic environment we’re in right now, where people are nervous about dealing with inflation and the high cost of housing. And that has led to stronger support for these issues,” Northwind Strategies founder Doug Rubin told Playbook. "It’s incumbent on the Legislature and our elected statewide officials to try and respond to that.”

TODAY — Rep. Richard Neal hosts a press availability on the 20th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq at 1:30 p.m. at the U.S. Courthouse in Springfield. Sen. Ed Markey hosts a virtual press conference on the New Deal for New Americans Act at 10:40 a.m.

Tips? Scoops? Birthdays? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com.

A message from NextEra Energy:

Seabrook Station nuclear power plant generates safe, clean, emissions-free energy that has helped power New England for decades. A long-term power purchase agreement with Seabrook would help Massachusetts meet climate emissions goals and lower energy bills at a substantial value to consumers. An agreement that locks in prices over several decades would – even estimated against fluctuating natural gas prices – lower electricity bills, saving Massachusetts’ consumers between $890 million to $2.62 billion on energy costs over a 10-year period.

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— PALFREY’S NEW GIG: Former AG hopeful Quentin Palfrey is now Gov. Maura Healey’s director of federal funds and infrastructure, a new position in which he’ll coordinate her interagency efforts to better compete for money for infrastructure, climate and economic development projects. The $160,000-a-year gig gives Palfrey, who was also the Democrats’ 2018 nominee for LG, a chance to flex his federal connections from stints in the Obama and Biden administrations.

— “Healey's tax plan will disproportionately benefit wealthier households, new report says,” by Meera Raman, Boston Business Journal: “The progressive-leaning Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center released a report last week criticizing Healey’s proposal, stating that it disproportionately benefits the Commonwealth’s wealthiest residents by focusing on the short-term capital gains tax and estate tax. … Cutting the short-term capital gains tax would also have an impact on racial wealth disparities in the Bay State, according to the report. Nationally, 92% of tax breaks on capital gains go to white families, compared to 3% to Hispanic and 2% to Black families.”

— “Healey seeks funding for victim services,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “Tucked into a supplemental budget filed by Healey is $20 million in ‘bridge’ funding to stabilize victim service programs and ‘ensure continued access to trauma-informed services’ funded by the federal Victims of Crime Act.”

— "Eviction Prevention Policy Set To Expire March 31," by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): "More than one hundred organizations endorsed a call Monday for lawmakers to extend a pandemic-era eviction prevention policy, warning that the looming March 31 expiration will displace Bay Staters and stymie other efforts to keep people in their homes. A section of state law known as 'Chapter 257' requires eviction cases to be paused when a tenant has an application pending for rental aid, such as through the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program."

STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.

FROM THE HUB

— “Arroyo wants to ban sale of ‘nips’ in Boston,” by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: “Fed up with thousands of tiny booze bottles littering his district, and concerned about the public health impact of a product that seems tailor-made to feed alcohol addiction, Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo is calling for a hearing to consider a ban on the sale of ‘nips’ in retail liquor stores in the city. … Since 2018, five Massachusetts communities have banned nip sales. But a no-nip proposal in the state’s largest city will reverberate loudly, elevating the stakes of the debate and attention it is likely to generate.”

— LOOK WHO’S NOT LAUGHING NOW: One of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s jokes from last year’s St. Patrick’s Day political breakfast is being used against her in a lawsuit. This year, the Boston Herald’s Joe Dwinell reports that a transit advocate is not amused by Wu’s wisecrack about the Harvard station ceiling panel that fell and nearly hit a woman earlier this month.

— “Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden pushes for stricter gun buying regulations to stop illegal guns coming from other states,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald.

A message from NextEra Energy:

FROM THE DELEGATION

— “‘Donald Trump Deserves No Sympathy': Mass. Lawmakers Slam Ex-President's Rhetoric,” by Marc Fortier, NBC10 Boston: “Several Democratic Massachusetts lawmakers are criticizing former Republican President Donald Trump's statement over the weekend calling for protests if he is indicted this week. … ‘My hope is that the criminal justice process as it works in New York City does not elicit a response from Trump supporters as it did on January 6th in the Capitol of Washington, D.C.,’ [Sen. Ed Markey said].”

— LONGSHOT BID: “Athol resident Louis Marino launches Senate campaign,” by Max Bowen, Athol Daily News: “Louis Marino, a lifelong Republican turned Libertarian, is hoping to unseat U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren in the next election.”

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IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

— “A place for burning wood in state’s green energy future?” by Alexander MacDougall, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Proponents of modern wood heating systems, fueled by either wood pellets or dried wood chips depending on the size and operation of the heating system, claim they can provide a non-fossil-fuel source of energy and, once properly installed, yield a marked reduction in heating costs. … But using wood as an energy source has its share of critics as well.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Bay State College to lose accreditation after appeal fails,” by Hilary Burns, Boston Globe: “Regulators said Monday they had denied an appeal by Bay State College to retain its accreditation, a setback that could force the struggling Back Bay school to close.”

A message from NextEra Energy:

Continued operation of the Seabrook Station nuclear power plant reduces electricity costs and boosts the state’s economy. A long-term power purchase agreement with Seabrook would contribute approximately $3 billion to the Massachusetts economy through utility bill savings, reduced energy costs and job creation/support. Seabrook has generated safe, reliable, low-cost, and emissions-free energy for more than 30 years. Seabrook’s operation will continue to provide baseload energy, with price stability, while Massachusetts scales up its renewable energy sources. Operating Seabrook would avoid nearly 50 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions over a 10-year period and contribute to Massachusetts meeting its clean air goals. A long-term PPA will help Massachusetts meet its clean energy standard. Nuclear energy is carbon emissions-free and Massachusetts’ most cost-effective tool to combat climate change. The procurement of additional energy from Seabrook going forward would help the Massachusetts affordably and reliably meet its clean energy needs.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Cate Martel, national political reporter at The Hill, and Danny Vinik, legislative aide for Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and a POLITICO alum, last week welcomed a baby boy named Riley. Pic

TRANSITIONS — SKDK is launching its New England practice led by SKDK Political President Pia Carusone, who cut her teeth in New Hampshire, and EVP Alex Bloom, a Warren Tolman and Katherine Clark campaign alum who also advised Marty Walsh.

— Baker-Polito campaign manager and senior political adviser Brian Wynne has launched polling, data analytics and market research firm Opinion Diagnostics.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to UMass Lowell’s John Cluverius, Ryanne Olsen and Shane Dunn.

Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.

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