Negotiations To Resume As Waukegan Teachers' Strike Continues
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Negotiators return to the table at 10 a.m. Monday in search of a breakthrough in the strike by teachers in Waukegan District 60. Classes remain cancelled.
Each side is hoping for big movement by the other side. Waukegan Teachers Council spokesman Kenzo Shibata said there was "slow but steady" progress Friday, but District 60 Chief Negotiator Tony Ficarelli said he continues to consider the union's demands "entrenched" and "unrealistic."
"We've been exchanging proposals, but the union has been intransigent in their demands for a three-year contract with 6 percent increases in salary and three years of single-health coverage," he said. "They won't get off it."
District 60's latest offer in detail:
- A 4% raise in year one and additional 3.25 % raise in year two, to all teachers in Tier 1. Tier 1 includes all teachers in years 1-22 of their careers.
- A 5.75% raise in year one and a 5.75% raise in year two, to all teachers in Tier 2. Tier 2 includes all teachers in year 23 of their careers.
- A 3.10% raise in year one and an additional 3% raise in year two, to all teachers in Tier 3. Tier 3 includes all teachers with more than 23 years' experience.
- Full payment of health care premiums by the board in year one and year two.
The strike affects more than 17,000 students and 1,200 teachers at 23 schools. The teachers walked out Oct. 2.
