Amherst educators join other teacher unions in criticizing state handling of pandemic
Updated Dec 17, 2020;
At issue is the difficulties faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement releases earlier this week, the Amherst union leadership said, “the Amherst-Pelham Education Association’s Representative Council voted overwhelmingly to declare ‘no confidence in the judgment or professional leadership capabilities of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and its Commissioner Jeff Riley.’ In doing so, the APEA educators stand together with over 100 other educator unions across the state that have expressed their dismay at Riley’s leadership during this pandemic.”
Massachusetts Teachers Association President Merrie Najimy told The Republican that “educators’ unions, like all unions, have an obligation to stand up for the health and safety of their members. Defending the health of our members also protects our students, their families and our communities.”