Westlake teachers will decide Wednesday whether they will go on strike in August.
This comes after more than a year of negotiations between the school board and the teachers' union.
The Westlake school board argues that the union's proposal contributes to deficit spending.
"The union’s counterproposal exceeds the amount of spending we have projected by 28 percent or $1 million which not only continues deficit spending, but accelerates it," wrote the school board in a press release earlier this week. Under their proposal, we would have to be on the ballot in 2 years with an operating levy."
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The union sent this statement to newsnet5.com Wednesday:
On Wednesday, June 15th the Westlake Teachers' Association will be taking a secret ballot vote to go on strike effective August 18th. The vote will take place at 4:00 pm at Dover Congregational Church in Westlake.
This vote is a direct result of the Westlake Board of Education's irresponsible decision to implement a Last Best and Final Offer that was overwhelming rejected by the WTA in May. The LBO will go into effect on June 27, 2016.
Under the law ANY work performed under an imposed contract is the same as accepting the terms of that imposed agreement. Once the LBO goes into effect, we will no longer be able to serve the students of Westlake. Therefore, if the members vote in favor of a strike, ALL involvement in ALL summer activities will end on Friday, June 24th.We sincerely hope the Board reconsiders their irresponsible actions and returns to negotiate with the WTA. Negotiations are the only way to end a strike and ensure that the students of Westlake have their valuable teachers this summer and in August.
Read the entire statement from the Westlake school board here.
