SUNBURY – Shikellamy teachers put themselves and their contract issues front and center Thursday evening–standing along Island Boulevard with signs that read ‘talk don’t walk.’ Members of the Shikellamy Education Association said they want meaningful negotiations and respectful communication.
After 14 months of talks, the union says meetings have not yielded any substantive discussions. Mark McDade is the PSEA representative for the teachers, “Every negotiation session should be an opportunity to make progress. After fourteen months and several negotiation sessions, we have nothing to show for it.”
According to SEA President Michelle Erdman, many of the talks have ended after only a few minutes, “We try to come to an agreement, discuss a topic, discuss something from our proposal and it’s pretty instantly not discussed, we’re told ‘no.’”
Following the rally, teachers and supporters filled the room for the Shikellamy school board meeting. In addressing the board, Erdman said the teachers are looking for cooperation and compromise in the upcoming negotiation this Monday, March 16.
Shikellamy teachers have been without a contract since June 2014. (Jennifer Wakeman)