Schools

Would You Support a Mokena Teachers Strike?

As contract negotiations continue, the Mokena Teachers Association has started paperwork that could allow for a teachers strike. Would you support it?

President John Troy said a recent "intent to strike" vote by the teachers union spurred the district releasing earlier this week.

The board, Troy said, wanted people to see the health insurance offer the union rejected. But that does not extend to what Troy said was the other sticking point: teacher salary increases.

"In terms of putting a percentage on what they want and what we want, I'm not going to get into that," Troy told Patch on Thursday.

Find out what's happening in Mokenawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Union spokespeople Craig Martinus and Laurel McGowan could not be reached by Patch for comment, but McGowan confirmed the strike vote in a recent Sun-Times media story.

The vote would start the paperwork rolling by sending an official "intent to strike" notice to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board. This does not mean there will be a strike, but is the first step to allowing a strike should prove fruitless.

Find out what's happening in Mokenawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The IELRB has not yet received any intent to strike paperwork, the agency's staff said on Thursday afternoon. The teachers' last contract expired over the summer.

Despite , there have been few details about the actual sticking points until this week's press release. The release is attached to this article, as are videos of parents and union representatives speaking at previous board meetings.

The next round of negotiations are set for Dec. 6. If no decision is reached, would you support a teacher strike?


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