Feb 19, 2016 3 min read

Peters Township School District and Peters Township Federation of Teachers Local 3421 posted their latest contract proposals and now it is up to a neutral arbitrator from suburban Philadelphia to decide their fate at a two-day hearing March 3 and 4.

The 285 district teachers have been working without a contract since Aug. 31, the first day of school for the 4,300 students who attend school in Peters. After failing to reach an agreement, the teachers walked off the job Oct. 28 and remained out until Nov. 27, without a new labor agreement. That lack of a contract forced both sides into nonbinding arbitration.

The arbitrator, attorney Timothy Tietze of Exton, Chester County, will rule on each issue separately, and there will be no middle ground. He will either rule in favor of the district or the union on each issue. If the two sides fail to come to an agreement, then they will return to the negotiating table, which raises the possibility of a second strike. Prior to last year’s strike, the last time there was a work stoppage in the district was 2000.

“We have adjusted our last position to secure success,” said Paul Homer, a union staff representative. “We believe we have a fair proposal, and we will see what happens next.”

The two sticking points are salaries and health care costs. The average teacher’s salary in Peters is in excess of $70,000 a year, the district said.

The proposals, which were made available to the public at 5 p.m. Friday, show the two sides are still apart when it comes to annual raises. The district is offering annual raises of $500 for teachers on salary Steps 1-16 and $200 a year for teachers on Step 17, the highest salary tier. The union, meanwhile, has proposed annual raises of $1,900 each year through the 2019-20 school year. Teachers on Step 1 would receive a $1,200-a-year raise. The union also said it did not want the work year to exceed 193 days.

Under an individual Highmark PPO Blue Plan, or equivalent, union members would contribute $75 a month toward health coverage for the 2015-16 school year. In each of the following four years, the contribution would increase by $5. For example, the monthly contribution the following year would be $80 and top out at $95 a month for the 2019-20 school year.

The public can view both proposals either online at the district’s website, www.ptsd.k12.pa.us, or at the administration building, 631 E. McMurray Road, starting Monday until 4:30 p.m. March 2.

Comments from the public must include the resident’s name and address and may be submitted via the online submission form on the district website or in paper form at the administration building. Those wishing to mail their comments can address them to Arbitrator Timothy Tietze, 631 E. McMurray Road, McMurray, PA 15317.

“We want to encourage our community to review the offers from both sides carefully and take time to share insights and opinions aimed at a resolution,” said Jeannine French, district superintendent. “The public comments are a very important part of this process.”

The work stoppage also forced the district to push back the last day of school until June 23 because the district called a snow day Feb. 16 because of unsafe road conditions. High school seniors are still scheduled to graduate June 10, but have to complete five additional days of school from June 13-17 to meet the required days and hours of instruction for graduation. By state law, the district must get 180 days of instruction in by June 30.