District 158 says teachers want 30 percent raise in 3 years

The teachers union in Huntley Unit District 158 has asked for an increase in compensation of more than 30 percent over the next three years, district officials said Friday.

District officials say the union's latest offer, while smaller than its initial proposal, would still force the district to deficit spend - a charge the union denies.

Both sides agree the union's latest offer would increase compensation by more than $2.8 million in the first year, an increase of 9 percent over this year.

The district's tentative budget for this year includes a $1.7 million surplus.

Board member and chief negotiator Larry Snow said $2.8 million "is a lot more than 1.7 million," adding, "I'd like them to explain why it isn't deficit spending."

District officials said the cost of the union's offer would rise after the first year because of increases in salary, health insurance and retirement benefits.

A union spokeswoman would not comment Friday on the three-year cost of the proposal or say why the union believes its proposal would not put the district in the red.

District officials said the union wasn't sincere in advancing an initial proposal that would have raised compensation by at least 23 percent.

"We don't believe the initial proposal - was reasonable. Now, they're barking about how much negotiating they've done," Snow said.

"The whole purpose of us agreeing to put forth reasonable proposals was to avoid this many months of waiting for both sides to get within this reasonable range. We're waiting for them to get there."

District officials say they have made a number of counteroffers during contract talks - most recently on July 16, two days after the union presented its latest offer.

A union spokeswoman said the union has been bargaining in good faith.

"The (union) and its negotiating team are very serious about the task at hand and are definitely serious about reaching an agreement as soon as possible," union spokeswoman Britt Crowe said.

Both sides declined to release their latest offers, although district officials said they've considered making the union's proposal public.

The district and the union have been meeting with federal mediators since the beginning of June and are scheduled to meet again Aug. 4.

The current contract expired June 30.