Peters teachers may go on strike
The Peters Township Federation of Teachers, which has been without a contract since the new school year began, said on Oct. 9 it will begin a work stoppage Oct. 28.
The strike could affect 4,300 students who attend the five schools – three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school – that make up the Peters Township School District. Thirteen negotiating sessions have taken place and the next session is scheduled for Oct. 27.
Approximately 285 teachers are represented by the Peters Township Federation of Teachers. The last time the teachers went on strike was 2000, said Shelly Belcher, district spokesperson.
“While additional negotiation sessions are planned prior to that date and we hope that PTFT will reverse their decision, we wanted to give you as much notice as possible to make necessary arrangements for your children during the work stoppage,” said Superintendent Jeannine French in a letter sent to parents Oct. 9. “The district will continue to work diligently to reach a settlement knowing that this type of interruption to their school year is not in the best interest of our students. In the unfortunate event of a strike, we will communicate a plan with details for meeting the educational needs of our students.”
French said she is prohibited by law from publicly discussing the details of the negotiations. William Merrell, a board member, declined comment on the potential strike.
Union representatives said they do not want a strike either, but members voted unanimously on Sept. 16 to authorize its negotiating team to call a strike if necessary. Paul Homer, a spokesman for Peters Township Federation of Teachers Local 3431, said French is allowed to talk publicly about the negotiations.
“We have 18 days until Oct. 28 to get a contract that is both good for students and fair to teachers,” said Kris Bergman, president of Peters Township Federation of Teachers Local 3431, who is also a teacher at McMurray Elementary School.
“For the good of our children, the community and the teachers, we urge the district to show us that they are serious about resolving the remaining issues by holding regular, productive negotiations,” Bergman said in a statement.
Issues between the two sides include class size and health care, Homer said.
The average teacher’s salary in the district is $71,540 and the salary range is $45,900 to $104,864. Under the expired contract, the current contribution to health care is $70 a month for individual coverage and $145 for family coverage, the district said.
It is not clear how a potential work stoppage would impact the district’s athletic program, Belcher said. The Peters Township High School football team is scheduled to play Pine Richland Friday, Oct. 30.
“Our goal is a fair and equitable agreement,” Homer said.