Teachers union says proposal affordable

For more than three months, Huntley Unit District 158 has characterized the teachers union's contract proposal as unreasonable.

This week, the union struck back.

In its first news release to address contract talks, the Huntley Education Association called its proposal "fiscally responsible" and implied the district -- not the union -- was holding up negotiations.

"The HEA has made significant movement in recent talks," the Wednesday release reads. "We want the Board of Education and chief negotiator Larry Snow to respond in kind. We want the board to negotiate toward settlement."

Because of large increases in pay, health insurance and retirement benefits, the original contract proposed by teachers would cost the district at least $37.2 million, a 23 percent increase.

The district has said repeatedly the union's proposal would bankrupt the district because the district's revenue is not expected to rise enough to cover the proposed increase.

But the union now says a revised proposal it submitted on July 14 is "affordable."

"It will not result in deficit spending," the release says. "It will not require a tax increase or budget cuts. Budget surpluses will continue."

District 158 officials said the union's release was inaccurate.

"Based on the current preliminary budget … the information that was provided by the HEA regarding budget surpluses and deficit spending is inaccurate," board Vice President Tony Quagliano said.

The union stood by its claims.

"We definitely stand by them," union spokeswoman Britt Crowe said. "We feel that they are accurate."

Both sides declined to provide documentation to support their claims.

The district's initial proposal would cost the district at least $31.5 million, a 4-percent increase.

The union and the district have been meeting with federal mediators since the beginning of June.

The current contract expired June 30.