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Palisades teachers could be the next to strike: Contract talks: Union, district, mediator set to meet Tuesday.
(Morning Call, The (Allentown, PA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 11--Palisades could soon become the next school district in the region to see its teachers strike.
After working without a contract for nearly four months, the teachers union will meet with the district and a mediator Tuesday in an attempt to avert a strike, which the union authorized Sept. 25.
A similar meeting Tuesday ended without an agreement.
Schools Superintendent Francis Barnes could not be reached for comment Friday, but a district spokeswoman said the teachers could go on strike after the session if the impasse continues.
"I am assuming that, after that meeting, a determination will be made about whether they will go forward," said Donna Holmes, community relations director.
Union President Laurie Borger said via e-mail that her group will meet Wednesday -- after the negotiating session -- to talk about strategy.
"We are currently discussing salary and benefits," she said.
The Palisades School District employs 160 teachers. Their last contract, which expired June 30, was for three years.
If the union decides to walk out, the Upper Bucks district would become the third group of teachers in eastern Pennsylvania to go on strike.
Souderton Area School District teachers went on strike Sept. 2 and returned Sept. 19 without a contract, and Saucon Valley School District teachers spent six days on the picket lines before returning to work Sept. 23, electing to go to nonbinding arbitration.
Other districts on a strike watch are:
The Northampton Area School District, where both the district and teachers union agreed to allow a fact-finder from the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board review documents from both sides and make a recommendation.
The Panther Valley School District, where the teachers union Thursday rejected a fact-finder's report calling for a three-year agreement with salary increases each year.
Teachers in both districts have been working without a contract since Aug. 31.
In the Jim Thorpe Area School District, both sides continue to negotiate as students attend classes. The teachers contract expired Aug. 31.
kevin.duffy@mcall.com
610-778-2246
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Panther Valley teachers reject fact-finder's report.
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