SOUTHINGTON School workers end strike

The tentative agreement was reached Thursday.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
SOUTHINGTON -- Six months of picket duty was worth the gains made in a new contract, says the leader of Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 673.
Details of the contract for the nine Southington schools employees have not been released. A tentative agreement was reached Thursday.
"I'll just say that absolutely, 100 percent, this strike was worth it," said Wendy Tietz, president of the union. "It was a negotiated settlement and the board wanted us to just accept an implemented contract. It was worth making sure we got a negotiated settlement."
She said the board also agreed that there would be no reprisals once the workers returned to their jobs.
"We wanted to make sure that when we got back there, we wouldn't be fired," Tietz said.
School board member Jerry Kovar could not be reached to comment.
Glad it's over
Tietz said she and the other eight union members are "very pleased" the strike is over.
"I'm not sure what spurred this action on the part of the board, but I thank God for it," Tietz said. "It's been a long time and I'm glad it's over."
The members include bus drivers, clerical workers and custodians. Six members of the union returned to work before the settlement was reached.
sinkovich@vindy.com