Seneca Valley teachers to strike

Snippets from various news sources:

Post-Gazette

Frustrated over a lack of progress during negotiations, the Seneca Valley Education Association said yesterday it will go on strike on Monday.

"Our people would much rather have an agreement," said Butch Santicola, a Pennsylvania State Education Association spokesman representing the teachers union. "But the teachers are sort of relieved to get this over with."

The 575 teachers in the district have been working without a contract since June 30, 2006. In August, the teachers voted overwhelmingly to authorize union leaders to call a strike if negotiations did not progress.

Tribune Review

The decision Monday to call a strike came the same day the district released results of a community survey it says found substantial support for the district's salary offer to teachers.

According to the results, 93 percent of respondents support teacher wage increases at or below the district's offer of 4 percent. The teachers want raises near 7 percent.

Only 11 percent of those responding said the top teacher salary of $70,400 is too low, and 69 percent said the average annual salary of $53,503 plus benefits is acceptable. Eighty-four percent said they would not want to pay more school taxes to increase teachers' salaries.

The district received 7,094 of 15,100 numbered surveys it mailed, for a return rate of 47 percent. Only 36 percent of those responding have children in school.

Teachers could strike until Dec. 8, which is when state law would require them to return so students could receive a minimum number of days of instruction.

Seneca Valley's 7,580 students reside in Cranberry Township, Zelienople, Harmony, Seven Fields and Jackson.