UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- A tentative contract agreement came fairly early on in the first day of a scheduled teachers strike for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District on Wednesday (Dec. 2).
In a joint statement issued in the early afternoon, officials from both sides maintained that the strike had actually been averted, with a marathon bargaining session continuing overnight Tuesday. The strike wasn’t officially set to begin until 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.
“Due to negotiations going until 6:30 a.m., some union members arrived to picket unaware that a tentative agreement was already near completion,” a joint statement from the district and the union announced. “We are happy that a strike was averted and students’ education will not be interrupted.”
Another reason for not chalking it up to Day 1 of the Local 795 teachers’ strike was the fact that CH-UH Superintendent Liz Kirby had already declared a “snow day” on Dec. 2 -- so that no instruction was missed, officials noted.
But for a minute there, it sure looked like a strike, based on the hundreds of picketers who walked around schools in the district. Even at midmorning, it still sounded like one, based on the number of car horns honking as they drove past -- including a motorcade described as a “rolling picket.”
Shortly after 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, the joint announcement was released by Kirby, CH-UH school board president Jodi Sourini and CHTU Local 795 president Karen Rego.
Braving what had officially been declared a "snow day" in the district, as well as observing social distancing guidelines, members of the Cleveland Heights Teachers Union, and throngs of supporters across Cedar Road, took to the picket lines in front of the high school on Dec. 2.Tom Jewell/Special to cleveland.com
“The parties negotiated all of last night (Tuesday) and into the morning (Wednesday), ultimately agreeing on important compromises for the good of our students and community,” the announcement continued.
“Above all else, we are relieved that our teachers will be exactly where they’re needed -- with their students.”
Further details on the proposal were unavailable pending a ratification vote by the 500-member union.
“A tentative agreement means that the bargaining teams have reached agreement on the contract’s terms, but the contract is not yet ratified,” the joint release stated.
And if the union votes to ratify, the district bargaining team will present it to the Board of Education for its approval as well.
In the interest of social distancing, picketers in the previously-averted Cleveland Heights Teachers Union strike lined around the corner from Heights High to the Cedar-Lee business district on Dec. 2.
“We will continue to keep the community and families informed as we move forward with this process,” the three leaders stated. “We will move forward as a united front against unfair EdChoice voucher laws and as proponents of fair school funding.”
Later in the day, school principals planned to share further details regarding classes for Thursday (Dec. 3).
With the exception of some in-class special education, the district has stuck with all-remote learning since the coronavirus health emergency hit in mid-March. The virtual classrooms will continue at least up until the winter holiday break later this month.
Concerning the union vote, Rego said that three informational meetings were planned between Wednesday and Thursday (Dec. 2 and 3) “to educate our membership on the offer. We plan on having a vote conducted tomorrow (Thursday, Dec. 3).”
As for an Unfair Labor Practice complaint filed with the National Labor Relations Board by the teachers union against the school district, Rego said she could not comment further until the terms of the agreement are released.
Levy recount complete
In other district news, the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections on Wednesday released the results of its automatic recount for Issue 69, a 4.8-mill operating levy that still won by 135 votes, officials said.
Earlier results certified by the election board showed the tax measure garnered 15,061 votes in favor to 14,926 against, for a victory margin of just under half a percentage point.
Would-be striking teachers got creative with their signs prior to learning at midday on Dec. 2 that a tentative contract had been reached, with union ratification possibly set for as early as Dec. 3.
Automatic recounts are required for races or issues decided by half a percentage point or less.
Unofficial results from Election Day had the tax passing by 65 votes. The final results included late-arriving absentee ballots and provisional ballots counted after Election Day.
The board had scheduled the recount for Tuesday.
The 4.8-mill operating levy will cost a homeowner about $168 a year -- or $14 a month -- per $100,000 in home value.
Read more from the Sun Press.
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