District 158, union fail to reach deal

Huntley Unit District 158 and the district's teachers union were unable to reach a deal on a new contract after almost seven hours of bargaining Wednesday night.

To date, the sides have not signed tentative agreements on any contract items, union and district officials said.

The sides spent much of Wednesday's session caucusing amongst themselves and met face-to-face for just one hour, according to the board and the union.

"We really only talked about the first year last night," Snow said. "After seven hours of meeting, we haven't bridged one dollar of the difference in year one."

The board wants a four-year contract, while the union is asking for a three-year deal. The largest increases, at least in the union's proposal, would come after the first year.

The difference between the union's and the district's proposals in year one is at least $400,000, Snow said.

Teachers have authorized the union leadership to call a strike if negotiations break down, according to the union.

"We're just continuing to negotiate," union Co-President Julie Hunter said Thursday morning.

The only significant progress Wednesday may have been the scheduling of future negotiating dates. The sides agreed to meet again Sept. 7, 14, 16 and 23.

Wednesday's meeting was the first negotiating session since Aug. 24.

Before the meeting, the board rejected the union's latest proposal, which would have increased teacher compensation by at least 6 percent, 7 percent and 8 percent in years one, two and three of the contract, respectively.

But Snow said the union's offer, as well as the board's "last, best and final" offer, are still being used as starting points for negotiations.

"Technically, you could say it was rejected," Snow said. "But that's what we're working off of."

Snow said the union wasn't satisfied with the estimated $1.6 million increase the board is offering in the first year.

"They wanted more financial concessions in the first year," he said.

Hunter said the union hoped to negotiate first-year compensation at Sunday's meeting.

Snow said the Huntley Education Association didn't approach negotiations with the same urgency as the board.

"The board was prepared to spend all night meeting with the HEA to smooth out an agreement," Snow said. "The amount of progress that can be made is limited by both sides."

Hunter disputed Snow's characterization.

"We would like to settle a contract as soon as possible," the union co-president said.

Despite the lack of progress, Snow said the board remained positive.

"Our attitude is, 'Let's get it done,'" Snow said. "We're going to stay at it."

The district's latest offer would raise most teachers' salaries by an average of 5.43 percent in the first year and by no more than 5.65 percent for three years after that.