Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Austintown teachers’ negotiating team can issue strike notice
AUSTINTOWN — The Austintown teachers union has authorized its negotiating team to issue a 10-day strike notice if its members deem it necessary.
The union’s members met today to formally reject a proposal from the school board to enter into binding arbitration on contract language related to how much planning time teachers have and how much input they have over scheduling it.
Michael Creatore, outgoing school board president, said the two sides are at a “dead end” on the issue, and binding arbitration is the only way to resolve it.
Also today, the Austintown Education Association’s membership gave its negotiating team the power to issue the strike notice “if they would ever need to call” it, said Tina Kubacki, the union’s vice president. State law requires teachers unions to give school districts 10 days’ notice before striking.
If the union goes on strike, Creatore said the district has a plan in place to keep the schools open.
The board is set to meet at 7 a.m. Thursday in executive session to discuss its options, Creatore said.
For the complete story, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.