Nonbinding arbitration starts up

The Seneca Valley strike is back in the news again. Both sides of the dispute presented their best offer to an arbitrator yesterday. If this process fails, the teachers could strike again this Spring. The Post-Gazette has a quick writeup.

Both sides in the Seneca Valley teachers contract dispute met with an arbitrator yesterday morning as part of state-mandated nonbinding arbitration following the Oct. 15 strike by teachers that lasted 24 days.

The teachers' offer included a 4 percent increase on base payroll of $30.8 million for the 2005-06 school year. That figure would be used to determine increases for 2006-07 and 2007-08.

The district's offer includes a 4 percent average salary increase per teacher per year, with contributions to health care premiums.

It could take up to 20 days for the arbitrator to issue a report.

If that recommendation is rejected by either side, negotiations can continue or teachers can strike for a second time.