With strike looming, Huntley District 158, teachers union meet
With a possible strike looming less than three days away, representatives of the Huntley Unit District 158 school board and its teachers union agreed to a hastily called bargaining session Friday aimed at averting a walkout.
The two sides gathered late Friday afternoon for their round of negotiations since teachers announced Thursday they would go on strike Monday morning if they did not have a new contract in place.
The previously unscheduled meeting came together after school officials issued a statement Friday morning indicating they would be at the district's offices at 5 p.m. ready to resume talks.
"The board of education believes that both sides must put in whatever time necessary to attempt to reach an agreement this weekend," the statement read.
Previously, the two sides has not been scheduled to meet until Sunday afternoon and again Tuesday.
The two sides have been negotiating toward a new contract for the past seven months, but wide gaps remaining over salaries, health care and pension contributions. Teachers have been working without a contract since last month.
The board has offered a contract that would give teachers a 5.43 percent raise, on average, in the first year. For three years after that, teachers would get raises at 0.65 percentage points above the rate of inflation.
The union has proposed a deal that would increase overall teacher compensation by 6 percent, 7 percent and 8 percent in years one, two and three of the union's proposed contract, respectively.
How we got here
February: Teachers union and school board begin meeting.
April: Initial proposals are made.
June: Mediators start meeting with two sides.
June 30: Old contract expires
Aug. 11: Teachers give 10-day strike authorization
Aug. 18: District makes "last, best and final" offer
Aug. 21: Teachers return to work
Aug. 25: School starts
Sept. 11: Union calls for a strike for Monday unless deal reached over weekend
Sept. 12 and 14: Negotiating sessions
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