PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria Federation of Teachers is planning a strike authorization vote, even before the second meeting with a federal mediator is held.
The union Monday announced a strike authorization vote scheduled for this coming Thursday, even after Local 780 president Jeff Atkins-Dutro told WMBD’s Craig Collins last week a strike is not optimal.
“If things break down here, mediation is our last step,” said Atkins-Dutro. “The next step would be a strike. But we’re trying to do everything we can to avoid that.”
Adkins-Dutro says a strike is still a last resort that the union has to prepare for no matter what happens.
Matt McCaw, union lead negotiator, says in addition to security, which was highlighted again with the football game fight on Friday, better pay is an issue.
“We have an interest just like the district does in both retaining and recruiting teachers,” said McCaw, to WMBD’s Craig Collins, last week. “The economic climate that we’re in, there’s a giant teacher shortage in Peoria, with 60-plus positions short right now. We’ve got morale. We’ve got to do something about the salary.”
If approved, the union, at any point, could notify District 150 it would hit the picket lines in ten days.
