Waukegan Dist. 60 classes canceled again because of strike

Classes are canceled again Monday because of the ongoing strike in Waukegan Unit District 60, which has seen some 1,200 teachers hit the picket lines for more than two weeks.

Contract negotiations between the district and union have not resumed since talks broke down last Wednesday.

On Sunday, the district posted an update on their website that said the teachers union representatives were the ones to break off negotiations.

"The Board is hopeful that the Union will contact the mediator and schedule a date to resume negotiations, so both parties can work together to get students back in class," the district's news release said.

Just after negotiations broke down Wednesday, Waukegan Teachers Council President Kathy Schwarz said in a statement that union negotiators did not walk away from the table but wanted to allow time for the board's negotiating team to bring proposals back to board members.

The board says it is offering salary increases of 3.8 percent for teachers with less than 22 years of employment, 5.75 percent for teachers with 23 years of employment, and 2 percent for teachers with 24 or more years of employment. The union's offer is 6.9 percent, 6 percent and 4 percent, respectively, according to the district.

Some 17,000 students, from kindergartners to high schoolers, have been out of school since the strike began. The district includes 23 school buildings.