Youngstown schools, teachers make progress on negotiations … – Youngstown Vindicator

YOUNGSTOWN Talks resumed between the Youngstown City School District and striking Youngstown Education Association on Wednesday, and it seems some progress was made.

Were still hoping something good could happen, but its going very slowly, said YEA spokesman Jim Courim.

The talks were scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. but the two sides met past beyond that to about 8 p.m., with Courim saying some progress was made.

The union has been on strike since last Wednesday after membership voted overwhelmingly in favor of the strike on Aug. 21.

The school district filed a complaint with the State Employment Relations Board last week, contending that the strike was unauthorized under Ohio law because the union had not engaged in the fact-finding process generally required in collective bargaining.

On Friday, however, SERB ruled that the unions contract allows it to bypass that fact-finding process. Teachers returned to the picket lines on Monday.

At a special meeting Friday evening, the board of education stated that it would resume negotiations with YEA, and earlier this week promised 14 hours between Wednesday and the end of this week.

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Youngstown schools, teachers make progress on negotiations ... - Youngstown Vindicator