NEWTON FALLS School workers prepare to strike

The 52 support workers will go on strike Monday if a deal isn't reached today.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
NEWTON FALLS -- Negotiators were to meet at 1 p.m. today in an effort to avoid a strike by 52 school district support workers.
If a tentative deal isn't reached by 5 p.m., union negotiators will walk out of the meeting and a strike will begin at 12:01 a.m. Monday.
"We're giving them four hours because the board has been coming into past negotiating sessions unprepared," said Bill Hart, a communications consultant with the Ohio Education Association, parent union of the Newton Falls Association of Classified Employees. "If there's no deal, we'll discuss planning for pickets at our 5 p.m. meeting."
Board's preparations
The school board met in executive session Saturday for 4 1/2 hours to prepare for today's talks, said Superintendent Linda Clapp.
She's optimistic a deal would be reached today.
During the Saturday closed-door session, the board discussed security at district buildings, which will remain open, Clapp said.
"We've contacted the local police and asked for their assistance with traffic with parents dropping off students," she said. "It's for parents dropping off their kids and for employees."
Hart said there is no need for that.
"We have no idea why they think our members would cause harm," he said.
The union passed out literature in the community Saturday explaining their position. The union represents custodians, bus drivers, secretaries, mechanics and aides.
The employees have been working under the terms of a contract that expired June 30.
An impasse was declared in September, and a federal mediator was called in Oct. 2.