close

No agreement reached in Peters teacher talks

By Suzanne Elliott 3 min read
article image -

Even though two more negotiating sessions are planned before a Oct. 28 work stoppage, it appears more and more likely Peters Township teachers will be walking the picket line.

Officials from Peters Township School District and members of Peters Township Local 3431, which represents 285 teachers, met again Monday afternoon for nearly three hours in an effort to come to an agreement to keep the district’s 4,300 students in school. Teachers have been without a contract since Aug. 31.

No agreement was reached Monday.

“If we don’t come to an agreement, we will be on the picket line at 7 a.m. Oct. 28,” said Paul Homer, a union spokesman.

Union officials and members were close lipped at they left the district administration building early Monday evening after the latest round of negotiations.

The district has offered $500 raises annually for teachers on Steps 1-16 and $200 annually for teachers on Step 17. In addition, the district has offered monthly health care contributions of $110 for the first year of the contract and $150 a month for the fifth year for those who have individual coverage. For teachers who have family coverage, the district has offered contributions of $185 a month for the first year of the contract and $345 a month for the fifth year.

The district also wants to increase the workday from 7.5 hours to eight hours and the work year from 193 days to 197 days.

The union, meanwhile, is asking for $2,500 in raises annually for the teachers during the life of the contract. It also wants health care coverage and full health care benefits for all retired teachers until they reach Medicare eligibility or the age of 65 with no contributions from the retirees.

Also, the union wants a reduction of contract Steps 15 to 17 and a stipend of $400 per student for teachers with class sizes over the following thresholds; kindergarten through 1st grade, 20 students; 2nd through 3rd grade, 22; 4th through 6th grade, 25; 7th through 8th grade, 26; and 9th through 12 grade, 28.

The district said the proposal from the union will cost in excess of $7 million in salary increases during the life of the contract.

“The PTFT offer is a step backward in our process,” Superintendent Jeannine French said. “But we are dedicated to moving forward and continuing to meet this week. A work stoppage is not what we want for our children.”

Pennsylvania requires its 501 school districts to complete 180 days of instruction by June 15. If a strike should take place, then the calendar would be modified by taking away vacation days and extending the school year to reach the required days, the district said.

The two sides have meetings set for Oct. 25 and Oct. 27.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $/week.

Subscribe Today