U-46 teachers file notice of intent to strike

Elgin Area School District U-46 teachers filed a 10-day intent-to-strike notice today, a day after a 15-hour negotiation session failed to produce a contract deal.

Elgin Teachers Association President Tim Davis emphasized that the move was routine.

"At this point it's purely procedural," Davis said. "It's done in most rounds of bargaining. A strike is a last resort. I don't think we're there."

By law, negotiating teams must meet with a federal mediator before calling a strike. Mediation sessions are scheduled for next Thursday and Dec. 11.

After Tuesday's marathon bargaining session, union and district officials agreed to call in the federal mediator. They previously had told 2,400 union members they would call in a mediator if a deal was not reached by Nov.Ȧ19 but then extended the deadline another week.

"We were not at an impasse," Davis said, "but we had to be true to what we stated to members."

The main issues on the table are class sizes and case loads, Davis said.