Seneca Valley teachers refuse to talk pact at forum

The likelihood of a Seneca Valley School District strike increased Wednesday when the teachers' union refused to participate in a district-sponsored public forum.

On Tuesday, the district announced a Sept. 6 meeting to publicly discuss labor issues while the sides try to agree on a new contract. Yesterday, the union said it would not participate, calling the meeting a publicity stunt and saying media outlets were told about it before the union was.

"This escalates the chance of strike. It's clear to us that they do not want to settle this thing," said Butch Santicola, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the union that represents the district's 530 teachers.

Tom King, a lawyer representing the district, said the purpose of the forum is simply to inform the community about labor issues. He said the union was informed before the media was.

"We have an obligation to people in the community to let them know what is going on," King said.

The school board rejected the proposal of an independent fact-finder it had requested to review contract proposals. Teachers rejected the report on Aug. 9, the same day they voted to authorize their union representatives to call a strike. The vote gives union representatives the right to call a strike at any time with 48 hours notice to the district.

There has been no bargaining since both sides rejected the fact-finder's report.

The average teacher's salary of $54,949 in Seneca Valley is the highest in Butler County. Teachers argue the growing district resembles prestigious Allegheny County districts more than smaller Butler County districts with smaller tax bases. Top teacher pay in Seneca Valley is at least $13,000 less than in similar Allegheny Country districts, union officials say.

"The issue is not their ability to pay, but a willingness to pay," Santicola said.

King said teachers want a 7-percent pay hike for each year of the contract, which could only be funded with a tax hike.

"People in Butler County came here to get away from Allegheny County taxes," King said.