Teachers in the Neshaminy School District officially went out on strike Monday morning.
The District says it cannot afford the proposal by the union, which represents 654 teachers.
The teachers in the Bucks County district haven't received any pay increases since the last contract expired in 2008, but they pay nothing toward their health insurance premiums.
"Nobody wants to be out here," said Jeff Dunkley of the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers. "But the board has really left us with no choice."
Board president Ritchie Webb says even meeting half of the demands would require tax increases, spending of reserve funds and reduction of student programs.
The union says it has offered concessions worth millions and accuses the board of failing to negotiate in good faith.
School district officials say some special education and athletic activities would continue during a walkout.
Though union leaders haven't said how long the strike will last they claim they are ready to meet with the school board. The school board claims however that there isn't enough money to give the teachers what they want.
"We have buildings we have to maintain," said Kim Koutsouradis, a member of the board. "We have programs we have to keep. We need to keep our kids in school, we need to keep them safe. It's not there. There are empty pockets around here nowadays."
If the strike is not resolved within three weeks the teachers would have to go back to work according to Pennsylvania law. They would then have to give back every Holiday and day off they and the students have until school ends in June. Both sides tell NBC 10's Tim Furlong they're willing to meet. Parents of the students are hoping that happens sooner than later.
"It's an inconvenience," said Dana Mosco, a parent of a student in the district. "I have to take her to work and then my husband has to get her from work and take her back home. It's a pain."
Ted Kirsch, the President of the American Federation of Teachers-Pennsylvania, released the following statement in response to the strike:
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You can’t reach a settlement if the two parties aren’t in the same room talking. Now the Neshaminy School Board has decided to cut off talks entirely by canceling scheduled negotiating sessions. Teachers remain willing to negotiate. The Board won’t even sit down with teachers. How much clearer could it be which side is blocking progress in reaching a contract?
Teachers are striking for one reason only: because they see no other way of persuading the School Board to negotiate an agreement in good faith. After nearly four years and six contract proposals from teachers, the Board has made little movement towards reaching a contract. Think about it. There are 500 school districts in Pennsylvania. No other district in the Commonwealth has gone nearly four years without a contract. Only this Board has shown itself unwilling to work with teachers to reach an agreement to the extent that years have passed with no progress.
We are willing to reach an affordable contract. This Board has refused to take “yes” for an answer on financial concessions from teachers. It has rejected proposal after proposal from teachers that would save millions in forgone salaries and health care cuts—in some cases, more than the Board’s own proposals. Worst of all, the Board is shortsightedly trying to gut teachers’ contractual right to a voice in education quality, ending years of true partnership between teachers and administrators in school improvement.
With its stubborn refusal to compromise, the Neshaminy School Board is failing its community. I urge this Board and Board President Ritchie Webb to stop stonewalling, schedule negotiations sessions, and get serious about reaching a fair agreement. Our teachers want to get back to the classroom. The only thing standing in the way is this Board’s failure to negotiate in good faith to resolve this dispute.
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