Dist. 211 teachers reject contract offer, authorize strike papers

The Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 teachers union Monday rejected a one-year contract offer and voted to file intent-to-strike documents.

"Not many people would agree to a 2.5 percent raise," union President John Braglia said, after about 700 teachers met at Conant High School to vote. "We're a very unhappy staff."

Once the strike papers are filed and received by district administrators -- which Braglia said could be as early as today -- a 10-day period would start. After those 10 days, the union wouldn't necessarily strike but instead could set a strike date. He said both votes were nearly unanimous, but wouldn't comment on the likelihood of a strike.

Meanwhile, board members were shocked.

"I'm very disappointed with the union," school board member Anna Klimcowicz said. "It was a very good contract that was offered to them."

Talks started in May and have snarled since August. A federal mediator met with both the district and teachers Oct. 9, but no progress was made.

The main issues for Braglia are the length of the contract and the money. The district had offered a three-year extension, with base-salary hikes of 3.4 percent for 2007-08, 2.5 percent for 2008-09 and 2.5 percent in 2009-10, as detailed on the District 211 Web site.

When the union balked at the three-year deal, the district offered one year with a 2.5 percent salary increase, which was what the union rejected Monday.

Braglia said he remains ready to talk with district officials but wants a 3.8 percent increase to the base, with a "kicker" to bring the salary up to 4.1 percent. That's the maximum the district allotted when adopting its budget last month, and it would bring District 211 teachers closer to teachers from Northwest Suburban High School District 214, who will earn 4.25 percent hikes this year.

Under the current contract, the approximately 1,100 unionized teachers get a 2 percent increase for 2007-08, not including step increases for experience. According to the 2007 state school report card, District 211 teachers make about $85,766 annually on average. District officials have said they want to keep raises in line with the projected consumer price index of 2.5 percent.

"But they have enough money to meet our needs," Braglia said.

The union also filed intent-to-strike papers in November 2005 when officials were negotiating the current three-year pact, which expires in July.

A strike was averted in December 2005, allowing for 2007-08 salaries to be renegotiated.

Officials on both sides can't remember District 211 teachers ever going on strike, which raises the question if this is a negotiation tactic by teachers.

"It's difficult to say," board President Robert LeFevre said. "The union obviously does things for a reason."

Klimcowicz was more blunt, saying taxpayers will have no sympathy for teachers.

"To me, threatening a strike is really wrong," she said. "It doesn't put the interest of kids first; it uses them as a pawn, and nobody wants that."

Braglia rebuffs allegations that teachers are disrespectful, saying his union accepted less during trying fiscal times so the district could build a strong budget surplus. Voters approved a tax increase in 2005 after deep program cuts were threatened.

"They have a staff that works very hard and serves students loyally," he said.

Braglia added the board was trying to strong-arm the teachers because it doesn't want to go through negotiations while interviewing for a new superintendent. Superintendent Roger Thornton has announced his retirement for 2009.

"That's not my problem," Braglia said.

LeFevre disagrees with Braglia's comments, adding the union, when dissecting the 2.5 percent offer, is failing to account for step increases.

"I don't believe we're trying to make anyone do anything they don't want," he said.