School Board Files Unfair Labor Charge; Negotiations Set for Friday

UPDATED APRIL 26, 2:45 P.M.

The Strongsville Board of Education has filed another Unfair Labor Practice Charge against the Strongsville Education Association, this time over demands made by the teachers' union to three School Board members.

Meanwhile, a federal mediator has called a negotiating session for Friday.

A news release says the SEA confronted three board members -- none of them on the district's negotiating team -- and demanded they vote in favor of resolving contract negotiations with binding interest arbitration.

The confrontation was not physical. The SEA sent out press releases calling on three board members to agree to arbitration.

It also asks the State Employment Relations Board find that the SEA violated Ohio law, and to "order the SEA and its members to cease and desist from engaging in unlawful direct dealing and from interfering with the BOE’s selection of bargaining representatives," the release says.

SEA President Tracy Linscott did not return a phone call seeking comment.

But on Friday, the SEA issued a press release calling the charge "an absurd waste of taxpayer money"  and an empty legal play aimed at distracting the community from the real issues.

SEA spokeswoman Christine Canning said it is "hardly confrontational to issue a press release that makes a request of a public figure.

“The voices of these three board members have been absent from this situation since the strike began. We were giving them a chance to be present,” Canning said. “I can’t understand how anyone could believe that asking them to open their mouths is somehow a crime.”

It is among several ULP charges filed by both sides in the ongoing teachers strike. 

The School Board has also complained about SEA members picketing in front of board members' homes and workplaces, and about union members' disruptive behavior at a negotiating session.

The SEA has filed at least three ULP charges, including an allegation that the board engaged in regressive bargaining and illegally published both sides' contract proposals on the school district's website.

The negotiations are set for 1 p.m. at the federal mediator's office in Independence. 

The strike is finishing its eighth week. 

Recent Stories:

More Students Leave Strongsville Schools; Only a Handful Opt Out of Test

Teachers Union Seeking Donations for Health Insurance

Teachers Strike Starts Week 8 with Flurry of Accusations

Teachers Union Blasts School Board for Not Accepting One-Time Offer 

Rowdy Crowd Addresses Strongsville School Board

School Board Makes New Offer to Teachers; Union Counters

For other stories on the teachers' strike, click here.

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