Geneva teachers won't strike before Thanksgiving, union says
Geneva teachers will wait at least until after Thanksgiving break to go on strike, union leaders announced Wednesday.
The Geneva Education Association said it had not reached a contract agreement with the Geneva Unit District 304 school board after negotiations on Wednesday. Teachers legally could have gone on strike Tuesday, but the union said it intends on giving parents adequate notice.
"We know parents will need as much time as possible to make arrangements for their students if we do go on strike," GEA President Kevin Gannon said in a news release. "That said, we are still hopeful we can reach a fair agreement with the school board and avoid a strike altogether. The last thing any of our teachers want is to be out of the classroom and on the picket line."
The union, which represents 459 teachers, and the school board have been negotiating over how much a salary increase teachers should receive in the new deal.