Saucon Valley teacher contract deal dies on table; union mum

Saucon Valley teachers' contract negotiations are back to square one.

The proposed contract offer that the school board approved and teachers rejected expired today. 

The Saucon Valley Education Association did not reconsider the deal and members haven't been in contact with district officials, district solicitor Mark Fitzgerald said.

"We didn't hear from them," he said.

The two sides announced in January that they had reached a tentative deal but then the association rejected it. Association President Theresa Andreucci then said members were confused by the contract's complexity.

She also announced that the union negotiating team was resigning and a new group would represent teachers. The names of the new team members have not been sent to the district, Fitzgerald said. Andreucci did not respond to an email message seeking comment.

School board negotiating team head Ed Inghrim said he thought the union had a good team in place. He doesn't know where things go next.

"We are waiting to hear from the association," Fitzgerald said. "The ball is completely in their court."

The union has gotten a new Pennsylvania State Education Association representative, who has indicated he plans to meet with his team, Fitzgerald said.

The district is hopeful the union will establish a new negotiating committee, which can finally articulate its position, Fitzgerald said.

"They're in the driver's seat," Inghrim said.

The district is not prepared to make any counteroffer at this point, he said. The district wants to see the union's position.

The four-year contract would've given teachers no raises in the first year and raises averaging 2.6 percent by the final year.

The two sides have negotiated for more than two years and appeared close to settling when they announced in January that they'd reached a tentative deal.

Source: Lehigh Valley Live