Teachers in 3 Pa. school districts go on strike
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM and KEVIN BEGOS, Associated Press
Updated 10:52 am, Tuesday, September 3, 2013
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Teachers in three Pennsylvania school districts went on strike Tuesday, while classes began as scheduled for many more of the state's roughly 1.7 million public school students.
In northeastern Pennsylvania, members of theOld Forge Education Association in Lackawanna County began walking a picket line after negotiations broke down last week. No new talks were held over the weekend.
"When your hand is forced, this is where you end up," said Shawn Nee, the union's vice president, said Tuesday.
Nearby in Luzerne County, Wyoming Area School District teachers also announced plans to strike Tuesday after three years of fruitless bargaining. Union president Melissa Dolmansaid that if there is no progress, teachers will not return to the classroom until Sept. 30.
In western Pennsylvania, union representations and officials in the Shaler Area School District met for about six hours Monday with a state-appointed mediator but were unable to reach agreement. Melissa Ravas, president of the Shaler Area Education Association, said teachers were expecting a new offer Monday but didn't receive one.
Shaler schools Superintendent Wesley Shipley did not immediately respond to a request for comment
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