Disgruntled District 211 teachers call strike for Thursday

Disgruntled Palatine-Schaumburg High School teachers will strike Thursday, barring any 11th-hour salary settlement.

Teachers Union President John Braglia set a Nov. 8 walkout after failing to come to terms during a three-hour negotiation session with the superintendent Thursday.

Braglia had said after the session that no strike date had been set, and both sides expressed cautious optimism.

But he sent an e-mail to union members later saying their governing board to approve the Nov. 8 strike date "because there was no agreement reached today, and in accordance with our plan."

Another session with the mediator is scheduled for 8 a.m. Monday.

Braglia had said Thursday he would wait to pick a strike date until after Monday's meeting.

Earlier Coverage Stories No deal, no strike date in Dist. 211 [11/02/07]Dist. 211, teachers back at table; could declare strike today [11/01/07]Police, union make plans for peaceful picket [11/01/07]Union, Dist. 211 board make postseason demands [11/01/07]Strike FAQ: The facts behind the issues [10/30/07]Looks like it's a win for sports [10/30/07]New Dist. 211 stance puts coaches on spot [10/30/07]Teachers picket Dist. 211 meeting [10/26/07] Have any questions? We'll do our best to get you answers. Email Daily Herald reporter Ashok Selvam at aselvam@dailyherald.com. Related Links Twp. High School Dist. 211NW Suburban Teachers Union, Local 1211

"It is my intention, and that of the negotiating team, to remain positive and committed to reaching an agreement that is fair and appropriate for our members, and not harmful to the financial health of District 211," Braglia's memo reads.

The memo also reads that teachers would report to their schools 30 minutes before the start of the school day to picket.

Braglia wrote that he wanted to give teachers plenty of advance notice "to accommodate teachers who wish to provide students with work that can be completed during a work stoppage and also to accommodate to the best of our abilities athletic teams still involved in post-season play."

Whether such games could be played during a strike has been a source of tension. The district has said that post-season sports will go on - but only if coaches who are also teachers cross the picket line and show up for work.

District officials could not immediately be contacted for comment on the plans for a Thursday job stoppage.

Talks broke down in August over salary demands for this school year. The district's so-called final offer was a 2.5 percent, while teaches asked for 3.8 percent.

District 211 is the state's largest high school district and its teachers are on average among the highest paid in the state. But they made concessions in the current contract - including no base-pay raise for this school year, barring a new deal - and have taken on higher insurance costs.