Teachers' Labor Troubles Disrupt School

Sept. 7 -- Labor disputes between school districts and school employees are disturbing the start of a new school year in many parts of the country.

In Buffalo, teachers went on strike today after negotiations broke down Wednesday night. But the school district is promising to take the teachers to court to force them back to class. It is illegal for teachers to strike in New York state and teachers could face jail time.

Meanwhile, in one of the largest school districts in the country, more than 200,000 Philadelphia students were able to begin school this morning as school officials and union negotiators continued contract talks.

Although the contract with teachers expired last week, a court order extended the terms until Monday to give negotiators more time.

“We are working very hard, long tedious hours,” said Barbara Goodman. “We are reinventing our contract, it’s like we were starting from scratch.”

Teachers voted to authorize a strike earlier this week butthe union president held off on calling a walkout whilenegotiations remained promising.

Under state law, the union must give 48 hours before teacherswalk off the job.

Boston Teachers

In Boston, students will not go without teachers this week, but the possibility remains that classes may be interrupted next week.

The Boston public school teachers union has agreedto return to the bargaining table, a day after members decided notto strike over stalled contract talks.

The Boston Teachers Union and School Department negotiators willresume talks at 3 p.m. Monday. The last talks were held Aug. 29.

“I think it was the understanding on both sides that afterSept. 5, we’d resume negotiations after we cleared the air on thefact that the [city] proposal on the table was unanimouslyrejected,” BTU President Ed Doherty said Wednesday.

The issues between the teachers union and the Boston SchoolDepartment, among other things, are class size, pay raises and theweight of seniority in teacher assignments.