Oct 9, 2015 2 min read

The Peters Township Federation of Teachers, which has worked without a contract since the 2015-16 school year began, said Friday afternoon it will begin a work stoppage Oct. 28.

The strike could affect 4,300 students who attend the five schools – three elementary schools, a middle school and a high school – that make up Peters Township School District. Thirteen negotiating sessions were conducted, with the next one set for Oct. 27.

Approximately 285 teachers are represented by Peters Township Federation of Teachers. The last time the teachers went on strike was 2000, said Shelly Belcher, a district spokesperson.

“While additional negotiation sessions are planned prior to that date and we hope that PTFT will reverse their decision, we wanted to give you as much notice as possible to make necessary arrangements for your children during the work stoppage,” said Superintendent Jeannine French in a letter sent to parents. “The district will continue to work diligently to reach a settlement knowing that this type of interruption to their school year is not in the best interest of our students. In the unfortunate event of a strike, we will communicate a plan with details for meeting the educational needs of our students”

French said she is prohibited by law from publicly discussing details of the negotiations. William Merrell, a Peters Township School District board member, declined comment on the potential strike.

Union representatives said they do not want a strike, but members voted unanimously Sept. 16 to authorize its negotiating team to call a strike if necessary.

“We have 18 days until Oct. 28 to get a contract that is both good for students and fair to teachers,” said Kris Bergman, president of Peters Township Federation of Teachers Local 3431, who is also a teacher at McMurray Elementary School.

“For the good of our children, the community and the teachers, we urge the district to show us that they are serious about resolving the remaining issues by holding regular, productive negotiations,” Bergman said in a statement.

The average teacher’s salary in the district is $71,540 and the salary range is $45,900 to $104,864. Under the expired contract, current contributions to health care is $70 a month for individual coverage and $145 for family coverage, the district said.

It is not clear how a potential work stoppage would impact the district’s athletic program, Belcher said. The Peters Township High School football team is scheduled to play Pine Richland Oct. 30.