What's behind talk of strike

Today marks the first day Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 teachers could legally strike.

Most indications are that won't actually happen today.

But with no formal negotiations scheduled right now and contingency plans in place by the districts, here are answers to some frequently asked questions about what a strike in the state's largest high school district could mean:

Q. What is the problem here?

A. In a word: money. The teachers feel they sacrificed when agreeing in 2005 to the current deal -- it lacks a base-pay increase for this school year -- and are under-appreciated. The district contends that through so-called step increases for years of service and other perks, teachers have a lucrative deal.

The district's last offer was for one year at a 2.5 percent base-pay raise, which officials have said is fair to teachers and to taxpayers. But the union rejected it, seeking a 3.8 percent base-pay raise with lump sum payments to bring it to a 4.1 percent.

Q. When could teachers start a strike?

A. In theory, it could happen today. And the union has given power to its bargaining team to authorize a strike, so no further vote is required.

However, union Vice President Jason Spoor said Monday that a strike isn't an "immediate concern."

Also, the union has scheduled pickets for after-school hours Thursday and Friday at district headquarters in Palatine. Presumably, teachers will picket at all the buildings during school hours if a strike begins.

The teachers' next payday is Wednesday and those paychecks will be withheld if a strike happens before then, District 211 Assistant Superintendent David Torres said.

Q. How will students and parents know if a strike has been called? What will happen in the short-term?

A. Though not legally obligated, unions often give districts some sort of notice to better prepare the community, said Illinois Federation of Teachers spokesman Dave Comerford.

District 211 officials said that if a strike starts, classes will immediately be canceled, as will most campus activities, dependent on what staff show up for work.

The district's Web site would post updates, and the district advises parents to call the district which would have its announcement hotline updated, just as if classes were canceled because of the weather. If the district gets enough notice, it will call off bus drivers. If not, any students dropped off at school during the first strike day would be bused back home in a "prompt manner."

Q. How long could a strike last?

A. It could be as short as a day or could take months.

Comerford of the Illinois Federation of Teachers said, in his experience, the average teacher strikes in Illinois last about a week. One of the longest was in downstate North Greene Unified Elementary District 3, where teachers went on strike around Labor Day in 1997 and didn't return to class until after Thanksgiving, Comerford said.

Q. How would the district make up missed school dates?

A. School days could be tacked onto the end of the year so classes extend into the summer. But that's something else the district and union to must agree on during contract talks. Teachers and administrators bickered over how school would made up during contract talks in 2001 in downstate Granite City, Comerford recalls. What should have been a two-week strike extended to a month because of the issue, Comerford said.

Q. What happens to other school employees?

A. All nonunion staff are required to be "productive and working for their full work day," according to a staffwide e-mail sent by district administrators last week. District officials say anyone who shows up for work will be paid -- including union members -- and work will be found for them to do.

Q. What gives the teachers the right to strike?

A. Teachers were given the legal right strike under 1984's Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Both sides must first try to work out their differences with a federal mediation, which in District 211 occurred on Oct. 9, and declare an impasse.

The union also has to file intent-to-strike papers, as the District 211 union did on Oct. 19. That set in motion a 10-day waiting period before a strike could be called.