(Woonsocket, RI) -- Unionized teachers in Woonsocket are denying they arranged a "sick-out" on Friday. The Woonsocket Education Department cancelled classes due to an excessive number of scheduled teacher and staff absences - nearly 200 teachers and staff members called out - amid an ongoing contract dispute between the city and the Woonsocket Teacher's Guild. A statement from a union official said she could only speculate why so many call-outs occurred, and said this year has been very taxing for every public school teacher and paraprofessional in the city.