MARBLE HEAD — Yesterday, faculty and staff from Salem State University, the Marblehead Education Association, the Beverly Teachers Association, and the Gloucester Teachers Association rallied in solidarity with one another.

Marblehead educators voted to strike on Friday, November 8, and have been out of classrooms since Tuesday. Meanwhile, educators in Gloucester and Beverly voted to go on strike on Thursday, November 7, and have been out of classrooms since Friday, November 8.

Joanna Gonsalves, a psychology professor and president of the Salem State Teachers and Librarians Union, spoke at the rally, highlighting why each of the unions is fighting as they remain on strike. Gonsalves also highlighted Thatcher Kezer, Marblehead town administrator and Salem State board member. “(Kezer) has some input into your contract negotiations, and it seems like maybe it’s going to stall and not do the hard math to figure out how to pay you the salary you deserve,” Gonsalves said.

In a statement, Erin Cooley, executive director of the Massachusetts Democrats for Education Reform, summarized the offers from each district’s school committees. The Gloucester School Committee offered a salary increase of more than 20 percent, the Beverly School Committee offered a 21 percent increase and the Marblehead School Committee offered 12 percent.

Gonsalves and his fellow professors are calling on Salem State leaders to use their power to help striking unions. Their message was addressed to Salem State President John Keenan, the university’s Board of Trustees and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll.

Gonsalves and representatives from each union crossed the street to deliver the letter directly to Keenan. When they returned, they mentioned that he was not present in his office, but they believe their message will be heard loud and clear.

Marblehead Veterans Middle School teacher Jae Guttadauro provided a brief update on the ongoing negotiations in Marblehead. He mentioned that the Ministry of Labor Relations had an increased presence yesterday morning to supervise the ongoing mediations.

Members of the Marblehead Select Board were also present at yesterday’s meeting to verify whether the school committee is actually able to negotiate, Guttadauro added.

Regarding speculation circulating that the school committee is “blocking” the negotiation process, MEA members responded “100 percent.” From the MEA’s perspective, the school committee spends hours reviewing the proposals made to it, only to come back with the answer no. MEA members are curious as to why it takes the school committee several hours to respond when their answer is simply “no.”

Yesterday, fines of more than $60,000 were imposed on the MEA, as well as Gloucester and Beverly, which Guttadauro said is part of the law firm’s “playbook.” He added: “It happened in Newton, it happened in Andover, it’s happening in Beverly, and now it’s happening in Marblehead.”

With no progress yet made at Marblehead, the School Committee and MEA will continue negotiations through the weekend in hopes of making progress that will get students back in class on Monday.