Dist. 211 chief 'disappointed' by union's intent-to-strike vote

Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 Superintendent Roger Thornton says he's not surprised the teachers union has voted to file intent-to-strike papers.

"It's appeared for sometime that at least part of the union has felt that a strike has been what they wanted to do," Thornton said this morning. "While I'm not surprised, I'm disappointed."

Union officials said a large majority of the 700 members present voted Monday night to reject the district's one-year offer for the current school year, which included a 2.5-percent base-salary increase. There are about 1,100 teachers in the union.

Talks began in May but came to an impasse in August. A federal mediator arrived last week but failed to progress negotiations.

Thornton said this morning he hadn't yet received any intent-to-strike papers. Union President John Braglia said that could happen on Thursday.

Braglia has repeatedly said teachers aren't interested in a multi-year deal and is asking for a 3.8-percent base-salary increase this year with a "kicker" to bring the overall total to a 4.1 percent raise.

The district had earlier offered a three-year deal with a 3.4-percent salary hike for the 2007-08 school year.

Thornton called the deal rejected Monday generous and a way to ensure long-term fiscal stability.

He also quashed any talk that money from the tax-rate referendum voters approved in 2005 would be spent on teacher salary increases, saying that doing so would be "betraying" voters.

"The board's offer is as far as the district can go while keeping its commitment to taxpayers," he said.

Teachers have been working under the terms of their previous contract, which Thornton said offers step increases for teachers based on salary and experience but no overall base-salary increase.

District officials maintain the union isn't taking into account step increases, which add money to base salaries. The union counters that a 2.5 percent base increase is less than what's been given in districts like Northwest Suburban High School District 214, where teachers will this year earn 4.25 percent salary hikes.

District 211 is the largest high school district in the state.

Before the sides agreed on a three-year deal in December 2005, the union also filed intent-to-strike papers, but a work stoppage never occurred.

Once the strike papers are filed and received by district administrators, a 10-day period would start. After those 10 days, the union wouldn't necessarily strike but instead could set a strike date.

Braglia said both votes - to reject the offer and to file an intent-to-strike - were nearly unanimous, but wouldn't comment on the likelihood of a strike.

For more on this story, check dailyherald.com later and Wednesday's print editions.