Teachers go on strike in Indiana County community
The union said teachers have been working without a contract for months
The union said teachers have been working without a contract for months
The union said teachers have been working without a contract for months
Teachers in the Penns Manor Area School District in Clymer went on strike Monday, after months of contract negotiations with the district.
Students in the district are not in class as long as the strike is happening. The state determines how long teachers can strike.
"Our members do not want to be on the picket line," said Annie Briscoe, with the Pennsylvania State Education Association, which represents the teachers. "We want to be in the classroom. We want students to be in school."
Teachers have been working without a contract since July 31, 2022. One of the big issues the two sides are trying to work out is health care.
The union describes a situation where the district is attempting to remove spouses from health care plans.
"That's something that's not acceptable to our members because where does it stop?" Briscoe said. "That opens the door to then saying, 'There's no more coverage for your children. It's individual only.'"
Over the weekend, the district put out a statement saying its health care costs had increased nearly 13% in 2022, and is set to increase by more than 12% in another few months.
The district superintendent declined an interview Monday morning, but invited members of the public to an informational meeting at 6 p.m. at the elementary school.
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