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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Steven J. Santarsiero |
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Santarsiero introduces 'Back To Educating Our Kids' bill
to avoid teacher strikes
HARRISBURG, June 9 – State Rep. Steven J. Santarsiero, D-Bucks, today announced that he introduced bi-partisan legislation (H.B. 1660) in the state House that would provide incentives for both sides to settle teacher contract disputes and prevent work stoppages.
State Rep. Tina Davis, D-Bucks, joined Santarsiero at the press conference in his district office in Newtown. Participating by phone were state Reps. Tom Murt, R-Montgomery, and Bernie O'Neill, R-Bucks.
Santarsiero said under his proposed "Back To Educating Our Kids Act," teachers and school districts would be required to start negotiating earlier than is currently required. The process would be divided into four phases: negotiation; fact finding; mediation and arbitration. In each phase, both sides would be required to meet regularly.
"The aim of this legislation is to avoid the distraction of stalled negotiations and walkouts so our schools can focus on what they do best: educating our kids," Santarsiero said.
Santarsiero cited a January Philadelphia Inquirer report that stated 13 of 63 school districts in the Philadelphia suburbs are without teacher contract agreements. He added that nearly 100 districts statewide are without teacher contracts with the most of those from last year, about 14 from 2009 and one (Neshaminy School District) going back to 2008.
"Many of these stalled negotiations drag on with no sign of settlement and teachers are still working under the terms of their last settlements," Santarsiero said.
Santarsiero said under his bill, if teachers and school districts get to the arbitration stage without settling, an arbitration decision would be rendered well before the new school year is scheduled to begin.
· If, within 10 days of the arbitration panel's decision, the teachers don't accept that decision without otherwise reaching a settlement, they would lose the right to strike.
· If, within 10 days of the arbitration panel's decision, the school board does not accept that decision without otherwise reaching a settlement, its state funding would be escrowed only to be released upon settlement being reached.
The legislation also prohibits strikes and lockouts from the beginning of the negotiation process through the 10-day, post-arbitration decision period.
"The Back to Educating Our Kids Act does not favor one side or the other," Santarsiero said. "Rather it puts maximum pressure on both sides to settle or accept the arbitration ruling and consequently it guarantees a quick and fair resolution."
Santarsiero, Murt and O'Neill are all former teachers. Murt also served as a school board member.
"I have always supported a worker's right to collective bargaining and I will continue to fight to protect it," Murt said. "We must however, acknowledge the impact these negotiations can sometimes have on those most dependent on the workers' services. This is especially true when an interruption in service affects our children's education."
He added that prolonged collective bargaining negotiations and strikes "can cripple a child's educational progress" and H.B. 1660 is a solution to that problem.
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