A work stoppage could take place in the South Butler School District after the teachers union voted to reject the latest fact finding report.
In a press release from the teachers union sent out Thursday afternoon, PSEA representative Brooke Witt says that accepting the most recent fact finding report would have set the teachers years behind the terms of the previous contract. She also says it would have created the possibility of drastic staff reductions. That report was issued last week by a state appointed Department of Labor mediator. As a result, Witt says that 97% of voting membership rejected the proposal.
The statement goes on to say a quick settlement is possible if the School Board negotiates in “good faith”, moves in a “positive direction” with proposals, and seeks “common ground” on outstanding issues. The statement concludes by saying “without compromise from the board…a work stoppage will come to fruition as we have exhausted all other options.”
The South Butler School Board voted unanimously to accept the fact finder’s report Wednesday night. Since both sides did not vote to accept the report, each side will vote again in the next week. If the report is not accepted by both sides again, negotiations could continue or other actions could be taken like a work stoppage.
This is the second time that South Butler has attempted the fact finding process. In 2015, a report from a different mediator was accepted by the school board and rejected by the teachers union.
Written by Ryan Saeler