NEWTON FALLS Schools take steps to stay open in strike

The strike deadline is Nov. 11.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NEWTON FALLS -- Board members are dedicated to averting a strike by classified employees, but are still taking steps to make sure schools stay open either way.
Before meeting with union representatives and a federal mediator Wednesday evening, board of education members met and adopted an emergency strike resolution. The resolution dictates that schools will remain operational if the 52 members of the Newton Falls Association of Classified Employees walk out Nov. 11.
Met with mediator
The two sides met for a third round of talks with the mediator Wednesday, but no agreement was reached, said Linda Clapp, schools superintendent.
"But the board is dedicated to working very hard to avoid a strike," she said.
Union representative Terri Pigg, a bus driver for the school district, could not be reached for comment.
Previously, she told The Vindicator the board had not made any offers satisfactory to the union.
Union representatives filed an intent-to-strike notice with Clapp, board members and the State Employment Relations Board Tuesday morning. Bill Hart, a communications consultant with the Ohio Education Association, parent union of NFACE, said the notice was hand-delivered in most cases.
Members of NFACE, which represents custodians, bus drivers, secretaries, mechanics and aides, have been working under the terms of a previous agreement since their contract expired June 30.
After several negotiating sessions in August, an impasse was declared in September, and a mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service was brought in to oversee the talks.
Three discussions have taken place in October, without result.
The sides are split on a number of issues, both monetary and not.
Clapp said the next round of talks will take place sometime next week, but no specific date was set.
The teachers in the district, who operate under a different union, are not affected by the possibility of a strike.
slshaulis@vindy.com