Rhode Island
Half of Massachusetts residents support legalizing teachers’ strikes • Rhode Island Current
Massachusetts state leaders have said they have no appetite for changing Massachusetts law to make it legal for public teachers to go on strike, but public opinion is more on the union side. In a new CommonWealth Beacon/GBH News poll, 50% of state residents favored legalizing teachers’ strikes, while 34% said strikes should remain illegal, and 16% said they were unsure or did not answer (toplines, crosstabs).
The survey, conducted by the MassINC Polling Group, comes on the heels of strikes in five Massachusetts school districts over the last two years. It is illegal for public sector employees to strike in the state, but that hasn’t stopped a wave of walkouts signaling a more militant posture on the part of teachers’ unions. The longest – and most recent – strike closed schools in Newton for two weeks in late January and early February.
The poll results point to a strong degree of sympathy for teachers’ efforts to secure better pay and other changes, even if it means shutting down schools to get there.
“Even though strikes are disruptive and inconvenient for families, the polling suggests people in Massachusetts recognize that the ability to strike is a primary point of leverage that teachers have,” said Richard Kahlenberg, director of the American Identity Project at the Progressive Policy Institute, a Washington, DC-based think tank.
The push to change state law to legalize teachers’ strikes, which is being led by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union, is taking place amid a surge of favorable public opinion toward organized labor. Since the 1930s, Gallup has polled Americans on the broad question of whether they approve or disapprove of unions. The approval rating hit 71% in Gallup’s 2022 poll and was 67% in 2023, levels not seen since the mid-1960s.
Layered over that rise in sympathy for unions, said Michael Hartney, an associate professor of political science at Boston College, is the positive view many people hold of educators. “I think teachers are generally one of the professional groups that have a lot of latent trust among the public, maybe up there with physicians,” said Hartney, author of the 2022 book How Policies Make Interest Groups: Governments, Unions, and American Education.
The poll, conducted among 1,002 Massachusetts residents from March 22 to March 29, showed a strong partisan divide on the issue, with 60% of Democrats supporting legalizing teachers’ strikes and 26% opposed, compared with 42% of Republicans who favor legalizing strikes and 44% who oppose such a change. There was also stronger support for changing the law among Black respondents (63%) and Latino residents (62%) than among Whites (48%) or Asians (41%).
The widest demographic difference was by age, with 64% of those aged 18-29 in favor of making strikes legal compared with only 39% of those 60 and older, a 25-point swing. Among those 30 to 44, 55% support legalizing strikes and among those 45 to 59, 46% do so.
Part of the explanation for the strong support for legalizing strikes among younger people is that, as a group, they skew more Democratic. But young people have also been hit hard by rising economic inequality, the high cost of housing, and have been part of a new union push, still in its infancy, in sectors ranging from Amazon warehouse workers to Starbucks baristas.
While they have a much bigger presence in the public sector, unions represent only 10% of US workers today, half the rate of 40 years ago. Because of that steady decline, young people are “much less likely to have an uncle, an aunt, a parent – someone they know – who is in a union,” said Kahlenberg. “Union leaders feared that would translate into less sympathy for unions, but the economic conditions on the ground have shifted such that young people are rediscovering the importance of unions,” said Kahlenberg, author of a 2007 biography of Albert Shanker, a major figure in the US teachers’ union movement, who led the New York City teachers’ union and the national American Federal of Teachers from the 1960s to the 1990s.
Kahlenberg said teachers’ unions have also effectively sought to link their grievances when they strike with issues parents care about, such as smaller class sizes or more guidance counselors. “Obviously, in the short term, it’s not great for kids who are out of schools, but the argument teachers will advance is, the working conditions of teachers are the learning conditions of children,” he said.
How questions about teachers’ strikes are framed can have a big impact on poll results.
Just over a year ago, in March 2023, MassINC Polling Group asked about teachers’ strikes in a statewide survey commissioned by Democrats for Education Reform. Using wording similar to the new CommonWealth Beacon/GBH News poll, it explained that some teachers unions have gone on strike recently despite it being illegal under state law. Asked whether they favor legislation that would make it legal for teachers to strike, 45% of respondents said yes, while 40% said strikes should remain illegal.
A poll commissioned at the same time by Northwind Strategies, a Boston-based political consulting firm that generally works with left-leaning candidates and causes, found much stronger support for legalizing strikes when Massachusetts residents were asked whether they favor allowing teachers to strike “to fight for higher wages and improved working conditions.” When the question was posed with that language, 67% favored legalizing strikes and just 29% of respondents were opposed.
The Democrats for Education Reform poll revealed considerable confusion about basic facts concerning the teacher strike issue. Fully one-third of respondents thought it was already legal for teachers to strike compared with 45% who correctly said it was illegal.
While their unions are pushing legislation that would make it legal for teachers to strike, the prospects for the bill seem dim. The Democratic troika that sets the agenda on Beacon Hill – Gov. Maura Healey, House Speaker Ron Mariano, and Senate President Karent Spilka – all oppose changing the law.
“I think there’s a pretty clear rationale for not allowing public sector unions to strike, because they play a key role in the provision of public services and interruption of those can be pretty disruptive,” said Marty West, a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and member of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Paul Reville, a former state education secretary, said despite the fines handed out to striking teacher’s unions, the incentives not to engage in walkouts don’t appear to be strong enough to prevent them, and he thinks there will be more strikes in the future, even without a move to legalize them.
“Teachers have legitimate grievances and legitimate demands to be paid reasonably,” said Reville, a professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education. He said a new structure should be developed that “creates disincentives for school committees to drag the process out” in negotiating contracts and “at the same time, puts pressure on unions to bargain in good faith and not consider striking as an option.” Reville said such a system could involve a judge assigning an arbitrator to decide the terms of a new contract if no agreement is reached after a specified period of time.
“It’s in the public interest to avoid these kinds of strikes,” he said. “So if we create a policy that, in effect, mandates that they come to the table to settle or, if they can’t, turns over that power to an arbitrator, that would be best.”
This article first appeared on CommonWealth Beacon and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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It is one of my all-time favorite places for exploring the outdoors with my kids and this weekend you can go for free.
A Free Day at One of Rhode Island’s Best Nature Spots
On Saturday, April 18, the Audubon Society of Rhode Island (ASRI) is once again hosting their Free Family Fun Day at the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol thanks to Bank of America. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. visitors can enjoy the trails, aquarium, and animals of this nearly 10,000 acre natural habitat near Narragansett Bay.
Exclusive to this weekend’s event will be the official opening of a new art exhibit.
New Woodpecker Art Exhibit Debuts This Weekend
Since last fall, work has been underway on the “Wings Unfurled: Downy Woodpeckers Define Their Space” art exhibit with Brown University and RISD. Visitors were even able to help with the painting of giant woodpecker wings that have now been installed along the nature trails.
READ MORE: Hike Rhode Island’s Hidden Coastal Gem Sachuest Point
Those attending this weekend’s Free Family Fun Day event will be among the first to walk the trail and see these giant wings on display. Guided walks of the wing exhibit are just one of the many activities happening throughout the day, taking place at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Nancy Hall/Townsquare Media
There will also be a welcoming talk from the installation’s creators: scientist Nico Moody and artist Stephanie Van Riet, at 10 a.m. and a woodpecker story time at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.
READ MORE: Best Rhode Island and SouthCoast Bird Watching Spots
Yet even if you skip the new exhibit altogether, there is plenty to enjoy at this waterside nature center along Narragansett Bay.
Family Activities Happening Throughout the Day
Throughout the day, crafts, coloring, and DIY pinecone birdfeeder activities will be happening around the property. You can explore the indoor aquarium, featuring a 33-foot life-size model of a North Atlantic Right Whale. Plus, at the back of the nature trails is a wooden bridge path that will eventually lead you to an overlook of Narragansett Bay, with great views and possibly even an osprey sighting.
Nancy Hall/Townsquare Media
With spring weather here and school vacation week kicking off, Saturday may be the perfect time to adventure outdoors for some free family fun at the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol. It’s definitely on my to-do list this weekend.
Explore Land and Sea at Bristol’s Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium
Need a day of hiking, biking and seeing a 33-foot North Atlantic Right Whale replica? Then you need to head to the Rhode Island Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol.
You can hike through various habitats, enjoy a peaceful pondside picnic and even enjoy an interactive aquarium full of native fish and sea creatures.
Fun for the whole family can be found at this hidden gem of Rhode Island.
Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall
Simmons Mill Pond Trail in Little Compton Is the Perfect Excuse to Get Outside
Take a walk through the quiet woods of Little Compton, Rhode Island and hit the reset button on life. Simmons Mill Pond Management Area can be accessed via Colebrook and John Dyer roads.
Gallery Credit: Gazelle
See Inside Gorgeous Gardens Hidden Away in Little Compton
For nearly 50 years the grounds of Sakonnet Garden have been growing in what might be the most private garden along the coast.
On certain days, at certain times you can make a reservation to walk among the hundreds of flowers and plants growing in hidden “rooms” on the grounds, or take a sneak peek right now.
Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall
Rhode Island
URI to award honorary degrees to entrepreneurs Marc Randolph and Dan Harple, and anti-poverty advocate Kate Brewster
KINGSTON, R.I.—April 16, 2026—Marc Randolph, co-founder and first CEO of streaming giant Netflix; Daniel L. Harple Jr., chair and CEO of Context Labs; and Katherine Angell Brewster, CEO of the Jonnycake Center for Hope in South Kingstown, will be awarded honorary degrees by the University of Rhode Island next month.
Each honoree will be recognized for their considerable professional and personal achievements during commencement ceremonies, May 15-17, at the Thomas M. Ryan Center on the Kingston Campus. Randolph will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws and serve as keynote speaker during commencement ceremonies for URI’s College of Business on Friday, May 15, at 4 p.m. Harple will receive an honorary Doctor of Science during commencement ceremonies for the College of Engineering on Saturday, May 16, at 5 p.m. Brewster will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during ceremonies for URI’s Feinstein College of Education on Sunday, May 17, at 1 p.m.
“Each of this year’s honorary degree recipients has made a profound and lasting impact on the communities they serve,” said URI President Marc Parlange. “Through their groundbreaking work in technology, business, AI, mentorship, and social welfare, they have continually expanded the horizons of what is possible—always guided by a commitment to leave the world and their communities better than they found them. These are the values we strive to cultivate in our students every day, and I am honored to recognize their extraordinary achievements during our commencement celebrations next month.”
“It is a privilege to welcome this year’s honorary degree recipients, who have demonstrated such dedication to their work, their values, and their communities,” said Barbara Wolfe, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Their impact serves as a powerful example to our students of what they too can achieve, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements at this year’s commencement ceremonies.”
Marc Randolph
Randolph is best known as the co-founder and first CEO of Netflix. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has built a reputation as a serial entrepreneur, founding or co-founding more than half a dozen successful startups. He has also mentored countless early-stage entrepreneurs and invested in a wide range of successful technology ventures.
Most recently, Randolph co-founded Looker Data Sciences, which was acquired by Google in 2019 for $2.6 billion. He currently serves on the board of the National Outdoor Leadership School in Lander, Wyoming; the Truckee Donner Land Trust; and Cheeze Technologies.
Randolph is the author of the international bestselling memoir “That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea.” He is the entrepreneur-in-residence at High Point University, an entrepreneurship leadership fellow at MIT, and a featured investor on Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Elevator Pitch” web series.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in geology from Hamilton College.
Daniel L. Harple Jr.
A technology entrepreneur and CEO for more than 30 years, Daniel L. Harple Jr. is considered an internet pioneer who has founded and built technologies, companies, and products used by billions of internet users. He has founded, grown, and merged companies with Netscape Communications, Oracle, and Sina, among others, driving at-scale global innovation and impacting users the world over. These innovations established foundational standards for internet collaboration, media streaming, and VoIP, used daily by billions across platforms such as Zoom, Skype, and YouTube.
Harple is chair and CEO of Context Labs BV, a company he founded based on his MIT research. The company delivers AI‑driven, auditable intelligence for industrial data, carbon management, and compliance. It provides AI-ready data infrastructure for global energy markets, creating context for the world’s most challenging persistent problems.
He is the recipient of numerous awards, including Inc. Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year, the Red Herring Watch Award, the Upside Hot Startup Award, the University of Rhode Island’s Alumni Excellence Award for Contributions to Science and Technology, and the NEA (New Enterprise Associates) President’s Award.
Harple holds an advanced degree from MIT and bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering and psychology from the University of Rhode Island.
Katherine Angell Brewster
Brewster has served as CEO of South Kingstown’s Jonnycake Center for Hope for more than a decade, leading the organization through a period of significant growth to become a cornerstone of support for residents facing economic hardship and providing food, financial assistance, housing and youth programming to more than 2,000 individuals.
During her tenure, Brewster has led the organization’s expansion into new initiatives, including the development of affordable housing and the creation of the Jonnycake Youth Center. Her career has spanned direct service and public policy, giving her a deep understanding of the systemic challenges facing families and the practical solutions that help communities thrive.
Prior to the Jonnycake Center, Brewster was executive director of the Economic Progress Institute, Rhode Island’s leading anti-poverty research and advocacy organization. She has also served on the boards of several prominent organizations, including the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and Thundermist Health Center.
In 2022, she was honored with the Murray Family Prize in recognition of her commitment to improving the lives of Rhode Islanders in need. Brewster holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Rhode Island and a Master of Social Work from Rhode Island College.
To learn more or to view a full schedule of ceremonies over URI’s Spring 2026 Commencement Weekend, visit: uri.edu/commencement/.
Rhode Island
Two Rhode Island men charged, arraigned, after concealed 1.8 pounds of cocaine, gun, cash, seized
Coventry, R.I. – According to police, over the past several months, detectives with the Coventry Police Department’s Special Operations Unit initiated a narcotics investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in and around the Town of Coventry. Through extensive surveillance and investigative efforts, detectives identified 33-year-old Richard Martin Jr., of Beach Street, Coventry, R.I., as the primary target of the investigation.
During the course of the investigation, multiple associates were identified, along with additional residences, located within the City of Warwick, frequently utilized by Martin Jr. and his associates.
On April 6th, detectives from the Coventry Police Department, in conjunction with detectives from the Warwick Police Department, executed multiple court-authorized search warrants in an effort to dismantle the organization.
During the course of a search warrant in Coventry, detectives, along with K9 Nixo, located approximately 1.8 pounds of suspected cocaine concealed within a sophisticated vehicle hide. Additionally, a 9mm handgun, a large sum of cash, along with packaging and weighing materials consistent with drug trafficking, were recovered from the residence.
As a result of the investigation, Martin Jr. has been charged with two counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Use of a Firearm While Committing a Crime of Violence, and Controlled Substance Conspiracy.
Additionally, 40-year-old Jason Tallo, of Warwick, R.I., an alleged narcotics trafficking accomplice of Martin Jr., was taken into custody in the Town of Coventry and was subsequently charged with Controlled Substance Conspiracy.
Martin Jr. and Tallo were transported to Kent County District Court, where they were arraigned on their respective charges before a 3rd District Court judge. Martin Jr. was subsequently ordered to be held without bail, while Tallo had his bail set at $25,000 with surety.
This investigation remains ongoing and additional arrests are expected
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