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Dedham Schools Reopen, Tentative Teacher Contract Agreement Reached

DEDHAM (CBS) -- The Dedham teachers union and the school committee reached a tentative contract agreement Sunday afternoon. Schools are set to reopen Monday.

On Saturday, bargaining talks went 11 hours straight and stopped at 2 a.m. Sunday. They resumed again at noon.

The Dedham Educators Association approved the strike by a vote of 258-2 Thursday afternoon. They've been working without a contract for more than a year now. A major sticking point in negotiations is language preventing sexual harassment.

According to the D.E.A., the agreement includes "an avenue to grieve the sexual harassment claims and a complete overhaul of sexual harassment policies to include training to leadership and staff." The four-year contract also includes a fair compensation package, 10 days of paid FMLA leave, unlimited personal days, new policies of grade changes and personal technology, and a promise that D.E.A. members will not face reprisals.

"Work for less, and do more work, is over. We have a fair and decent contract," D.E.A. President Tim Dwyer said. "The only reason we are here today with a fair contract resolution is because of the solidarity shown by our members.

It's against the law for teachers to strike in Massachusetts. Before the Dedham teachers walked out, the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations issued an order not to strike.

The Massachusetts Teachers Association released a statement Sunday that said, in part: "Educators in Dedham deserve to have a fair and effective way to address complaints of sexual harassment; all workers do. Educators in Dedham deserve to be treated as professionals and compensated appropriately for their time; all workers do. Educators in Dedham deserve access to quality health care; all workers do. In fighting for acceptable working conditions, Dedham educators are creating better learning conditions for students."

A final vote will take place on Monday afternoon.

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