Crestwood Teachers Set Strike Date

THE TEACHERS` UNION REPRESENTATIVE SAYS HE DIDN`T PLAN ON GIVING THE STRIKE NOTICE TONIGHT. BUT THE LAST TALKS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD FORCED THE DECISION. THE CRESTWOOD TEACHERS` UNION GAVE ITS STRIKE NOTICE THURSDAY NIGHT AFTER IT SAYS IT RECEIVED AN OFFER THAT WAS QUOTE - `TRASH.` John Holland, PSEA says... "They gave us a proposal that is completely unrealistic." Gene Mancini, Crestwood School Board "We thought it was an earnest proposal that would get us a settlement." THE SCHOOL BOARD TOLD THE UNION IT EXPECTS TEACHERS TO PAY A SHARE OF HEALTH CARE. THE UNION SAYS THE DISTRICT CAN SAVE MORE MONEY THAN IT ORIGINALLY PLANNED BY JOINING THE HEALTH CARE TRUST FOR TEACHERS IN NORTHEAST P-A. "The board came in here and made it clear to us that they don`t care how much money they save - they want to force these teachers to have a premium share." WITH THAT AS THE MAJOR STICKING POINT, 180 TEACHERS WILL GO ON STRIKE AGAIN, UNLESS A DEAL IS REACHED IN THE NEXT WEEK. LAST NOVEMBER, CRESTWOOD TEACHERS WALKED OUT FOR ONE DAY. THERE`S NO WORD ON HOW LONG THIS STRIKE WILL LAST. THE DISTRICT IS PUTTING ITS STRIKE PLAN INTO EFFECT. Richard Duffy, Crestwood Superintendent said. "We will have information on our webpage. We will have information via our phone number." *CG Twoline Richard Duffy Crestwood Superintendent NO NEW TALKS ARE SCHEDULED. TEACHERS HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CONTRACT FOR 3 YEARS. THE DISTRICT SAYS IT INTENDS TO GO ON WITH SPORTS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES DURING THE STRIKE, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO START SEPTEMBER 26TH. FOR NOW, THE LONGEST CONTRACT DISPUTE IN PENNSYLVANIA CONTINUES.