D124 Board and Teachers Union to Meet Next Week For Contract Talks

A resolution won't be coming this week. 

The two sides were supposed to sit down on Friday Sept. 7, to discuss each others final contract term offers, but the District 124 Board of Education has rescheduled that meeting to Monday, Sept. 10 so they can have more time to review the union's offer. 

The final offers of both the union and board were due to be filed with a federal mediator and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board on Thursday. 

In a press release, the board announced their decision to delay the meeting to allow them more time to consider the proposal.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Machak was encouraged by both sides' willingness to hammer out an agreement. 

“The vote to authorize a strike is a strategy that is used often,” Machak said. “The union leadership has assured me they want to continue to sit down at the table and get the contract finalized.”

Evergreen Park Federation of Teachers announced on the union local's Facebook page that teachers would be holding a rally at 4:30p.m. Monday, Sept. 10, before the next negotiating session, outside of

"Wear your solidarity t-shirt or wear blue," teachers said on their Facebook page.

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The two sides have been working toward a new contract since April. Teachers argue that the district is operating with a large surplus and that since talks began five teachers have moved to other districts.  

Lorraine Swanson contributed to this report. 

Read more stories on the D124 teachers' contract negotiations:

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