The dispute between teachers and board members at Waukegan District 60 continued this evening, with talks breaking down and no set time to return to the bargaining table, officials said.
The teachers at the far north suburban school district began the strike on Thursday after negotiations failed to break an impasse on issues like salary, health benefits and employee working conditions. Negotiations this evening also failed to produce an agreement, officials said, and the union said there is no set time for the two sides to come back to the bargaining table.
“Representatives from the Waukegan Board of Education walked away from the bargaining table tonight at 9:20 p.m. without setting a time for the next negotiating session,” Waukegan Teachers’ Council President Kathy Schwarz said in a statement. “Board representatives submitted a counter proposal with no substantive changes, but instead contained regressive language that moves the process backwards. Regressive bargaining is a violation of Illinois labor law.
“The union asked the administrative team to stay for one hour to answer questions and wait for a counter proposal,” she continued. “The board’s team refused, causing the cancelation of school once again tomorrow. Through the mediator, the union is trying to establish a time with the Board for the next session.”
Tony Ficarelli, the district’s chief negotiator, said the board did not walk away but “adjourned for the evening” after proposals submitted were “the same as the last two days.”
“We asked for a definitive time and date to resume negotiations – they wouldn’t commit to it so we adjourned,” Ficarelli said.
Ficarelli said the board offered to be back at the bargaining table at 9:30 a.m. and are waiting to see if the teachers agree to that time.