State-Appointed Fact-Finder to Report on SVSD Teacher Contract Talks

A fact-finder was appointed by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry's Labor Relations Board last month to develop a report on the sluggish contract negotiations between the Saucon Valley Education Association—the union that represents 189 teachers—and the school district, the Express-Times reported.

Saucon Valley teachers have been working without a contract since June 30, 2012, and negotiations for a new contract have been under way since January 2012.

The Express-Times article indicated that the state-appointed fact-finder is a neutral party who will examine the current contract proposals and make recommendations about them in a report due by Oct. 28.

It was recently reported by the Morning Call that the SVEA had asked for a state mediator to participate in the negotiation process.

According to the article published by the Call, two of the issues that have become sticking points in the contract talks are a teacher retirement incentive program and the decision-making process for teachers who want to obtain a district-paid graduate degree.

Saucon Valley teachers last struck in the fall of 2009, before their most recent contract was adopted.

The teachers also struck in 2008 and 2005.