YCSD responds to strike notice from Youngstown Education Association
The Youngstown Education Association, a union that represents 400+ educators in the Youngstown City School District, has issued a notice to strike after negotiations with YCSD failed Friday afternoon.
The YEA tells 21 News that they have no further negotiations scheduled with YCSD, and had not come to an agreement during talks that wrapped up just after 6 p.m. on Friday.
The strike comes after days of negotiations between the YEA and YCSD evidently fell apart Friday afternoon.
In a statement provided to 21 News, YCSD Spokeswoman Stacey Quinones says, "Although some major hurdles were agreed to at the table, including health insurance provisions including insurance premiums, and coverage amounts, the parties remain far apart on wages."
In the statement, YCSD also claims the parties attempted to negotiate a one-year contract to act as a stopgap, but was unable due to wages, which the district says in their eyes is "the biggest hurdle."
The statement further claims that YCSD offered their full budgeted amount for raises on the final day, but the YEA requested two and a half times that amount.
According to YCSD, two further negotiation dates with a federal FMCS mediator were proposed, and as such, they see the strike notice as "premature."
"We want it settled," said Eric Teutsch, YEA President. "We want to be back to work. We want to be back with our kids. It's not complicated for us. We want it settled. We want a deal. We want it settled on time."
YCSD teachers report back to work on August 15 with students expected back in the classroom the following week.
"We're always positive," explained Jim Courim, Spokesperson for the YEA and 8th grade ELA teacher at Chaney Middle School. "We're always hopeful that we can get a deal that's best for the community and for the students and staff."
In response to the district's press release, Teutsch is calling the release "a complete lie" that the main sticking point is wages.
He said wages are a topic of concern but educators are most focused on working conditions.
The YEA Union will now request fact-finding and issue the strike notice. They are unsure how this would affect the upcoming school year if the strike went into the school year.
Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor was not available for an interview Friday evening.
