Naperville Unit Education Association President Dan Iverson speaks to a crowd of union members and supporters outside of Naperville North High School Monday. Iverson and the union have said they may not return to their classrooms for the first day of school Aug. 19 if the two sides do not reach an agreement on a new contract after the current one expired this summer. (Rafael Guerrero / Naperville Sun)
Naperville School District 203 teachers may strike if an agreement is not reached on a new contract before classes resume Aug. 19, according to statements from the union representing them.
The Naperville Unit Education Association (NUEA) wrote it “does not intend to return to school on August 19 without a settled agreement” in posts published online some time after the two sides bargained Wednesday.
“The NUEA absolutely does not want to go on strike. We believe that the board’s short-term interests are preventing them from seeing the long-term benefits to the community,” according to a post on the union’s website Thursday.
“Is it a possibility? Yes, it is a possibility,” Union President Dan Iverson said Friday when asked about a potential strike.
Iverson said they were surveying members and could have more information on such a course of action next week, he added.
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“A lot can change. But I’m optimistic we can get out of this,” Iverson said.
“Our position is (our contract proposal) is reasonably possible. Within the current revenue streams of the district, it is something we are very confident that can be done and can be done with no additional burden to taxpayers. Frankly, it’s something that needs to be done,” he added.
In a statement, District 203 officials said “despite multiple bargaining sessions and much hard work, the sides have not been able to reach an agreement on several key issues. The board is committed to continuing to negotiate with the NUEA.”
District 203 officials said three principles guide negotiations: “to continue delivering the high-quality education our students and community expect and deserve; to competitively compensate our teachers and staff at every stage of their career for their excellent work in educating our children; and, to ensure that the contract agreement we reach is fiscally responsible and allows the board to preserve the long-term financial health of our district.”
The union representing roughly 1,500 educators in District 203 began the public posting process in July to push transparency and spur talks with district leadership over family leave, teacher compensation and other items they seek in a new deal.
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The current contract — which has been twice already — ended June 30. In a statement after Wednesday’s session, District 203 officials said “it is common for teachers to return to the classroom without disruption after a contract has expired.”
“It’s not true in our district. It’s been done in other districts, we acknowledge that. But it’s never been done in our district,” Iverson said of the district’s statement.
Family leave and compensation are the most contentious issues, Iverson said. A federal mediator was brought in to help bring the two sides closer together over the two main sticking points. Other outstanding items are not expected to be barriers in negotiations, he added.
The union wants members to be allowed to use up to 12 weeks of accumulated sick days for family leave, which union officials argue they are entitled to under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Currently, NUEA members can use six weeks of accumulated sick days for family leave and can take up to another six weeks of unpaid leave.
“We’re a little mystified why we’re being fought so hard on the (Family and Medical Leave Act) issue,” Iverson said.
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Discussions over compensation include requests from the union that District 203 compensate teachers fairly as the district adopts Multi-Tiered Systems of Support districtwide.
Iverson said they support its adoption districtwide, but the system — designed to help students achieve essential learning standards in every class subject — will require additional planning, instructing, assessing and burden teachers with more responsibilities.
“Since the school day does not allow enough planning time required by this model, this work falls well outside of the traditional school day,” union officials wrote in response to the district’s proposal on Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. “This time should be compensated.”
The two sides are scheduled to bargain Monday and Aug. 16, with two other optional bargaining session dates on the 17th and 18th. Iverson said he expects bargaining will require all four sessions.
The union president did not rule out other public events to raise awareness, like the rally outside Naperville North High School on Aug. 2. A crowd of close to 500 attended the rally, most of them wearing red in solidarity.
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The group of teachers, families, supporters and others walked about three-quarters of a mile to Washington Junior High School, where the District 203 school board was to meet that evening. While most did not stay for Monday’s meeting, dozens of written public comments were submitted about contract negotiations.
“We were thankful for that support (Monday)... especially with a relatively short notice. We were gratified by that,” added Iverson, expecting a smaller turnout.
Naperville Unit Education Association members and supporters -- most of them wearing red -- make the walk from Naperville North High School to the District 203 school board meeting early Monday evening. (Rafael Guerrero / Naperville Sun)
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