Hours before the Holyoke Teachers Association’s planned press conference and community forum scheduled for later this afternoon on Monday April 27, Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia released a letter to all city residents with a clear message: Let’s keep negotiating. A strike would hurt everyone.
“I am hearing rumors about a potential strike by the Holyoke Teachers Association, even as mediation continues to resolve ongoing contract negotiations,” he said in the letter. “A strike is not the answer for Holyoke. For a community like ours, the consequences are serious, even if a strike lasts only one day. Many of our students rely on schools not only for education, but also for stability, meals, specialized services, and a safe environment during the day. Staying at the table and finalizing the contract is the answer. Teachers, we’ve made real progress together, under local control. Now is the time to finish the work, finalize an agreement, and keep our focus where it belongs, on the success and well-being of the children of Holyoke.”
The bargaining teams of the HPS School Committee and the Holyoke Teachers Association have been in contract negotiations since February 2025. After more than a year with no agreement, HPS and HTA entered into mediation on March 12, 2026. The next mediation session is scheduled for May 6, 2026. The HTA’s contract expired on July 1, 2025.
While the HTA has not yet publicly called for a strike—which is prohibited under Massachusetts law—last week the teachers union announced a community forum at 4:30 p.m. today at Dean Tech. Over the weekend, the union announced through local media that the organization is holding a formal press conference this afternoon as well.
Mayor Garcia is urging the HTA to continue working through the mediation process to secure a fair and reasonable contract. A great deal of progress has already been made, and he believes there could be a resolution soon, as long as negotiations continue.
“Our teachers deserve fair pay, supportive working conditions, and respect. These beliefs have guided this process from the beginning and resulted in the current proposal that reflects compromise, investment in our educators, and a path forward that also protects the long-term stability of our schools and our city,” he said, noting that the School Committee’s most recent proposal is reflective of those beliefs.
“This is a contract (proposal) that keeps us on track to continue delivering meaningful gains. It reduces workload, invests in our educators, and maintains stability for our students, especially those who rely on our schools the most. It is, in itself, remarkable given the financial challenges facing nearby districts in municipalities that have had to cut teaching positions and programs, seek overrides to fund core services, or manage significant budget gaps.”