EAST PALESTINE, Ohio-A potential teacher’s strike is looming in East Palestine as negotiations between the education union and the school district approach their fifth month. Hundreds of educators attended a recent school board meeting, calling for renewed negotiations on issues like pay and quality of education. Lenny Glavan, a union representative, emphasized the need to invest in teachers and students. The East Palestine Education Association’s contract expired on June 30, and the union claims the district has not negotiated since mid-September. The union is seeking a 14% pay increase and reduced workdays, while the district has proposed adjustments in exchange for salary increases, which the union rejected. Superintendent James Rook stated that the district plans to keep schools open during a strike, hiring necessary staff and a security firm. The union has expressed a desire to resume negotiations earlier than the scheduled October 16 meeting, while Rook expressed disappointment that the union appears to have abandoned negotiations, despite reaching numerous tentative agreements beneficial to teachers.
https://www.wfmj.com/story/51573145/east-palestine-teachers-union-issues-intent-to-strike-notice
