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Fairborn, Ohio, Teachers Reject Proposal

Posted on: Thursday, 2 February 2006, 18:01 CST

By Ismail Turay Jr., Dayton Daily News, Ohio

Feb. 2--FAIRBORN -- Teachers voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to reject the Fairborn school district's latest contract offer, but no strike date was set.

Teachers voted 181-54 during a meeting at which the Fairborn Education Association's negotiation team presented the district's latest offer -- 1 percent pay raise and no increase in medical co-pay -- to the more than 300 instructors the union represents. The offer was made Jan. 26 when both sides met with a federal mediator.

During that meeting, teachers offered to double their $5 co-pay, which the district previously proposed, in exchange for a 2 percent pay raise. But the district negotiators said the district was not prepared to negotiate on health care, said Keatha Wilson, a union spokeswoman.

Teachers are willing to pay higher health care costs because little or no pay increases will affect their retirement benefits, she said.

"I feel like it's been a game of cat and mouse," she said. "If they present another unreasonable offer, the next ballot will include a strike date," she said.

Bargaining between negotiating teams resumes Wednesday. The teachers' union has invited the school board to attend, in addition to its negotiators.

Board President Greg Spahr said he appreciates the invitation. The board, which plans to meet prior to negotiations, will discuss the offer and decide whether to attend, he said.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Dayton Daily News, Ohio

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Source: Dayton Daily News

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