Dist. 207, teachers union want mediator to step in

Maine Township High School District 207 and its teachers union requested a federal mediator to help them reach a new agreement.

Both sides Tuesday said they are hopeful a third party will help them reach a pact to replace one that expired last August.

After three, six-to-nine-hour bargaining sessions over the past week failed to yield an agreement, the district and Maine Teachers Association late Friday opted for mediation.

Talks began in February 2007 to draft an agreement to represent the district's 650 teachers.

"Both sides remain very optimistic that we're going to be able to bring closure to the successor agreement in a fair and expedited manner," said Greg E. Dietz, assistant superintendent for general administration.

Sticking points that remain include salaries, retroactive pay and the length of the new contract.

Neither side would get specific, citing ongoing negotiations.

But Emma Visee, a Maine South teacher who is the union's acting president, said she believes a third party will help resolve the issues remaining.

"The teams have worked really hard to take a really big process and narrow down all the issues so we are left with some nuggets," Visee said.

With the help of a mediator, talks could resume this week at the earliest, she said.

Teachers still are covered under the five-year contract that expired on Aug. 15.

Neither side could remember the last time a federal mediator was needed to reach an agreement in District 207.