Hundreds of teachers are on strike in Andover, Massachusetts. Classes were canceled Friday for the district’s roughly 5,500 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. But contract negotiations were scheduled for Friday afternoon. The union voted Thursday evening to go on strike. But a negotiation session with the school district and a state-appointed mediator was set for Friday afternoon. District officials say they have offered 23% raises for starting-level teachers and 11% for top-level teachers over three years. The union is pushing for 16% raises for all teachers, also over three years. Wages for instructional aides also have been a sticking point.
