NEWTON FALLS SCHOOLS Classified employees take 'wait and see' stance in talks

No new talks are set until Dec. 10.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NEWTON FALLS -- Classified employees of the school district plan to continue working at least through the next round of scheduled contract talks.
"We will wait and see how things go from there," said Terri Pigg, union representative and a bus driver for the school district.
Talks were tentatively scheduled for Tuesday night between the board of education and the Association of Classified Employees union, but did not take place, Pigg said.
Because of school closings related to the Thanksgiving holiday, school officials could not be reached to comment.
The next talks are set for Dec. 10.
Pigg said the 52 members of the union -- which represents bus drivers, secretaries, aides, cafeteria workers and more -- have not issued a second strike notice to the board and the State Employment Relations Board, and have no plans to until the two sides meet again.
"The members are getting frustrated, though," she said. "We want a contract."
Almost a strike
Union members were set to strike earlier this month, but rescinded the notice following a lengthy bargaining session.
Despite the hold on a walkout, union members did file two charges of unfair-labor practices against the board.
The charges allege the board delayed bargaining sessions and then lied about the reasons for the delay, and also tried to frighten and intimidate union employees by threatening to cancel health insurance if the employees did strike.
The charges also contend board members engaged in recessive bargaining, saying the board presented health insurance proposals and then reducing them a few days later.
Health benefits are said to be the major stumbling block in the talks.
NFACE members' contract expired June 30, but employees continued working under terms of the previous agreement. The sides have been meeting with a federal mediator since September.
slshaulis@vindy.com