East Palestine teachers ready to picket at board meeting

EAST PALESTINE — The school board has announced plans to immediately file an unfair labor practice charge against district teachers if they picket as planned during a board of education meeting scheduled for Monday.

In a prepared statement issued today, schools Superintendent Tom Inchak reported that on Tuesday the East Palestine Education Association gave notice of its intent to picket at the East Palestine City School District during Monday’s board meeting.

Inchak said the picketing is illegal because it does not provide the 10-day advance notice required by Ohio law, and any picketing by the union Monday would not only result in the immediate filing of an unfair labor practice charge by the school board but also would “demonstrate the willingness of the EPEA leadership to violate the law in an attempt to achieve their financial goals.”

Greg Aker, a spokesman for the union, said the union had filed the necessary paperwork in plenty of time for picketing to legally take place this past Monday and today.

For the complete story, see Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.