Dist. 158 teachers back at work

Teachers across Huntley Unit District 158 were back for their second day of work Friday - the first day teachers could have gone on strike.

Though teachers have voted to authorize a strike, the union reiterated Friday that one is not imminent.

"We have no plans to strike as long as the board continues to negotiate with us," Huntley Education Association co-president Julie Hunter said.

Hunter said teachers plan to show up for work on Monday, the first day of class for students.

"The HEA will definitely give at least 48 hours notice to the district and the community," in the event of a strike, Hunter added.

While the sides remained hopeful they would be able to reach a deal soon, district officials have said they're worried a strike could be coming.

"I think they've set themselves up for a strike since day one," board Vice President Tony Quagliano said. "I'm hoping that's not the case."

The union is awaiting a response to its latest offer, submitted to the school board Thursday morning.

The board discussed the union's latest proposal at a closed-door meeting Thursday night but hasn't yet decided how to respond.

"We had extensive discussions about the proposal," board member Larry Snow said. "We need to complete a thorough costing of the proposal."

Teachers rejected what the district called its "last, best and final" offer earlier this week.

District leaders have said they hope to continue negotiating with the union as long as teachers engage in "quid pro quo."

The next bargaining session will probably be on Sunday, district and union officials said.

Quagliano expressed concern about the cost of the union's latest offer.

"It's still significantly far apart, dollar-wise, from where we're at," Quagliano said.

The board vice president said the board has a problem with the union's request that almost all teachers get a 6-percent pay raise in the first year.

Typically, teachers who have reached the end of their lanes - that is, worked a certain number of years without completing more education - get smaller raises than most of their peers.

Under the union's latest offer, nearly all teachers - including teachers at the end of their lanes - would get a 6-percent pay raise.

In years two and three, most teachers would see 3.5-percent pay raises.

The union has declined to comment on its latest offer.

The district's latest proposal would give teachers a 5.25-percent pay raise in the first year and tie salary increases to inflation in subsequent years.