Ban Teacher Strikes?

From publicopiniononline.com

Pennsylvania bill to ban strikes by teachers stalls
By RICHARD FELLINGER Public Opinion Harrisburg Bureau

HARRISBURG -- Teachers in three Pennsylvania school districts have hit the picket line so far this school year, but that won't be enough to convince state lawmakers that school strikes should be banned.

Bills to prohibit teacher strikes remain stuck in the Legislature with no apparent plans to move them.

Supporters of a ban say it's because teachers' unions exert too much control over lawmakers.

Critics of a ban say the bills languish because a majority of lawmakers realize teachers need a last resort to negotiate fair pay and benefits.

The only teachers to strike this year in central Pennsylvania were in Franklin County's Tuscarora School District. They began striking Sept. 2, but a tentative deal struck on Sunday will send them back to work today.

Teachers in Montgomery County's Souderton Area School District walked out last week and remain on strike. Teachers in Allegheny County's Duquesne City School District struck for three days last week before settling and heading back to work.

Rep. Todd Rock, R-Mont Alto, authored a bill to ban school strikes and said dozens of people contacted him inquiring about the status of it during the Tuscarora strike. He blames the power wielded by teachers' unions.

"It's not an easy fight to win, but I think it's the right thing to do for the schoolchildren," Rock said.

His bill is expected to die when the legislative term ends in November, but he promised to re-introduce it in the new term that begins in January.

A spokesman for the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the state's largest teachers' union, said they have as much of a right to participate in the legislative process as anyone, and the legislation to ban strikes "fails a basic test of fairness."

PSEA spokesman Wythe Keever said banning strikes would give school boards the advantage when negotiating teacher contracts.

"It's in the interest of all Pennsylvanians to have adequately paid, fairly paid teachers," Keever said.

Rock's bill would ban strikes and settle contract disputes through a process involving public disclosure of contract proposals, non-binding arbitrations and regular town hall meetings.

Rep. Bob Bastion, R-Somerset, has introduced companion legislation that would put language banning strikes in the state constitution.

Senate Minority Leader Robert Mellow, D-Lackawanna, has sponsored a bill that would ban strikes but calls for a different process for settling disputes.

Mellow's plan would require both sides to submit their last best offer to a county Common Pleas judge, who would pick one of the two plans.

Teacher strikes this year in Pa.

- Tuscarora School District, Franklin County. Teachers due back today after striking last week.

- Souderton Area School District, Montgomery County. Teachers still on strike.

- Duquesne City School District, Allegheny County. Teachers back at work after striking last week.