After controversial strike in Newton, half of state residents surveyed say they support legalizing teacher strikes

Public opinion is in favor of legalizing teachers’ right to strike, according to a recent poll.

According to a Commonwealth Beacon/GBH News Poll conducted by the MassINC Polling Group, 50 percent of residents supported legalizing teacher strikes while 34 percent said strikes should remain illegal.

“Even though strikes are disruptive and inconvenient for families, the poll suggests that Massachusetts residents recognize that the ability to strike is the primary leverage available to teachers,” said Richard Kahlenberg, director of American Identity Project at the Progressive Policy Institute. has The Commonwealth Beacon.

For Massachusetts teachers, although it is illegal to strike in the state as public employees, recent years have been marked by walkouts and shutdowns and increased tenacity by teachers’ unions. .

Strikes have occurred in five Massachusetts school districts in just two years. The most recent strike in Newton, which began on January 19, was the longest in the state since 2022.

The strike closed Newton schools for 11 days, ending with a contract approved by the Newton Teachers Association that would improve compensation, family leave and mental health support for students.

The poll results also indicated that young people were much more supportive of legalizing strikes, with 64 percent of people aged 18 to 29 favoring legalizing strikes. This contrasts with 39 percent of people aged 60 and over.

The majority opinion in favor of legalizing this type of strike also comes at a time when public opinion, according to a Gallup poll, is on the side of unions in general.

“I think teachers are generally among the professional groups that have a lot of latent public trust, perhaps on par with doctors,” said Hartney, author of the 2022 book. How Politicians Create Interest Groups: Governments, Unions, and American Education.