Recordpub.com - Teachers in Field OK strike notice Approval allows union's negotiating team to take action if contract talks stall

By Matt Fredmonsky
Record-Courier staff writer
Teachers in the Field Local School District gave the OK for its contract negotiating team to issue a strike notice if negotiations with district administrators reach an impasse.
The approximately 141 members of the Field Local Teachers Association voted Wednesday night to authorize the strike notice. The FLTA released a brief statement late Wednesday about the vote.
“The FLTA membership overwhelmingly approved the vote to authorize the negotiations team to issue the 10-day strike notice to the board of education, if necessary, to ensure a fair and equitable contract,” according to the statement.
Mary Ann Powers, a spokeswoman for the FLTA, said the decision to issue a strike notice now lies with the members of the negotiating team, which includes the president and vice president of the FLTA, three teacher members and the association’s attorney.
“It’s their decision now,” she said.
Powers said the teacher’s association is required by law to give the board 10 days notice, but she was unsure if the 10 days are defined as calendar or business days.
Pay raises, retirement benefits and individual costs for health care coverage are reportedly among the contract sticking points.
Negotiators on both sides met Wednesday for several hours but were unable to reach a deal. A negotiation session has been scheduled for today, and the Field Board of Education also plans to meet in executive session today to discuss the negotiations. The groups have been in discussions since April.
Field Superintendent Dave Brobeck said earlier this week that schools will remain open if the district’s teachers strike.
School administrators in Wadsworth are facing a similar situation. The 285 members of the Wadsworth Education Association voted this month to issue a 10-day strike notice. Teachers there plan to strike Tuesday if an agreement is not reached.

44.	Posted by Voice November 22, 2009
	Yes there are hundreds of teachers looking for jobs but that does not mean they are automatically quality or effective teachers. Just like all professions there are excellent, good, mediocre, and sadly poor teachers who have gone through the university system. Based on the scores I've read and the parents and students I've spoken with, the Field teachers are a quality, effective, and caring group, and a known commodity in whom the community should be proud. To suggest hiring someone or anyone to replace them and think you will automatically find yourself in the midst of a positive and beneficial educational environment is absurd. However if you get a new Superintendent, nothing that touches the minds, hearts, and inspirations of your children will change. Does the Mr. Brobeck know your child. No he does not. Who should be more important to you, your child's daily mentor or an administrator who doesn't even know their name?

43.	Posted by Brimfield_Mom November 22, 2009
	This article talks about a fair contract and "pay raises, retirement benefits and ind. costs for health care coverage". I am curious as to what the details are - does anyone know what the teachers are being offered, or what they are requesting? We have some great teachers in Field (and a few I would love to see retire or move on!) but I would like to give them the benefit of the doubt. Teachers usually do want what's best for kids, that's why they became teachers - so striking seems odd, especially in this economy. It makes me think that the school board must really be trying to take advantage of them...

41.	Posted by RETIRED GUY November 21, 2009
	Wonder what the concerned field citizen committee has to say now. These teachers make a fair wage for what they do and collect a good pension through STRS. I hope the board replaces everyone and then we can start all the new teachers at 25,000 a year. for at least seven years to get them up to what they get now. They can get a summer job to make up the difference until then.

40.	Posted by petmcgroin November 20, 2009
	Yes the teachers probably make decent salaries. Not the 50,000 range that some one previously stated. They don't want any more taken away from them. They have taken no increase for 3 years now. This year they received a 3.5% decrease. What has been proposed is a contract with no real limits to what the board can charge for insurance. Yes the schools do take care of sick kids. Parents can't or won't pick them up or send them back when they are still sick. Kids don't get any sleep at night in their homes so some end up in the clinic for hours to get some peaceful well needed rest. I'm not saying every kid is needy but there is definitly low income kids that school is the safest place to be. I'm anxious to see if these new board members can get Dr. Brobeck out of here. Let him move on to his 3rd school district to ruin.

38.	Posted by Truthtalk November 20, 2009
	Pet...Okay...so Hoban teachers MAKE less so they contribute less back to the class. Field teachers make more and contribute more. That makes sense. Are Field teachers REALLY taking care of sick and hungry kids? Really? Your last sentence says it all. Field teachers do make a "decent salary and benefits". Thats what we are trying to say. Let it go for this contract. There are a lot of people hurting financially. If you strike, you are acting exactly like your critics expect...spoiled.

36.	Posted by petmcgroin November 20, 2009
	How many Field parents can afford to send their kids to Hoban? I'm sure Hoban teachers are not taking care of sick, hungry kids. Paying for their classes school supplies. They might be paid less but what they contribute with their own pay back into the kids and classroom is I'm sure considerably less. I don't know why any of you didn't become teachers if you think they have it so great with their summer off. Do the teachers get on your cases if you are at a job with a decent salary or benefits?

35.	Posted by johnmike November 20, 2009
	If you want a quality education for your children, there are three great schools in the area. St.V.,Hoban,and Walsh provide college prep courses and the teachers do not complain about their salaries-that are far lower than public school wages. A good education does not require higher paid teachers,just teachers and parents who are committed to academic and moral excellence.