No deal in Ringgold after day of talks
The Ringgold teachers’ strike, entering its fifth day, continues.
Ringgold School District and the Ringgold Education Association met at 10 a.m. Monday, but after more than 8½ hours of negotiations, the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.
Maria Degnan, REA president, said talks broke down over several key issues, including compensation.
“The district still wants to devalue our salary schedule, and our members have told us very clearly that is not an option,” said Degnan.
According to Degnan, REA’s offer to continue negotiations throughout the night in order to end the strike was rejected by the district. She said the district also declined three additional bargaining dates this week.
The next scheduled negotiation date is Nov. 1.
A statement released by the district said, “The district believes that substantial progress was made today. However, there remains significant differences on key issues in terms of salary and benefits. The district is committed to arriving at a contract that is fair and responsible to the teachers and taxpayers.”
The more than 200 teachers walked off of the job Oct. 18, with the proposal to freeze them at their current salary step for five years as one of the biggest challenges preventing a new 5-year contract.
The state Department of Education is requiring that the members of Ringgold Education Association return to work by Nov. 21 in order for the school calendar to have 180 days of education by June 15. A second strike is possible that would extend the school year to the end of June.
The union also rejected a fact-finder’s recommendation that would have take salaries from between $36,000 and $78,508 a year last term top between $41,439 and $83,947 a year by the end of the contract.
REA encouraged “everyone in the district” to attend the Oct. 25 school board meeting at 7 p.m. at Ringgold High School to “ask the board to reach a fair and equitable settlement with its teachers.”
“Everyone in this community wants for this strike to be over. The board should listen to those who elected them,” said Degnan.
Picketing will continue at district buildings until a settlement is reached or until the Nov. 21 mandated return-to-work day.
The union had been working without a contract since July 1.