East Palestine prepares in case teachers strike
EAST PALESTINE -- Parents of city-school pupils will receive mail soon about the district's policies and procedures in the event of a teachers strike.
The 95-member teachers union issued a notice Tuesday of intent to strike effective 5 a.m. Oct. 21 if no labor agreement is reached.
Kevin Locke, attorney for the board of education, said in a statement Tuesday that the board will meet soon to direct the superintendent to keep schools open if the teachers strike.
Locke said so far, the federal mediator scheduling the talks between the board and the union has not set further meetings.
"If the parties do meet, the board's team will work hard to reach a deal with the teachers on all of the outstanding issues," Locke said.
Negotiations began May 8 and continued until an impasse was declared June 20. Both parties have met about five times with a mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
A session Oct. 3 ended after about five hours with no agreement reached.
A three-year contract expired June 30.