UPDATED: Arlington Teachers Picket

Members of the  picketed outside of Thursday afternoon to build support as they fight to reach a final contract with the town.

Teachers in Arlington have been and are currently with the town over health care, benefits and other issues. Due to collective bargaining restrictions, Arlington Education Association (AEA) President Ron Colosi could not reveal the specifics of these negotiations, but he did say the AEA has been assigned a state mediator to assist with negotiations.

“The teachers care about the schools and their students, but at the same time we have to stand up for ourselves and advocate for our needs,” Colosi said.

Colosi is hoping for a strong turnout at the AEA’s first mass picket regarding the contract issue.

“We’ve been reasonable,” Colosi said, “But at the end of this school year, it will be two years without a contract. We simply can’t work in that kind of environment.”