Union, district reach tentative agreement, averting strike

A strike scheduled for Monday by teachers and other professional personnel in New Kensington-Arnold School District has been averted, the teachers unionsaid Saturday.

A tentative agreement between the New Kensington-Arnold Education Association and the district was reached during a negotiation session late Friday, according to a statement from the southwestern region of the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

The statement included no detailsabout the agreement.

The union, which represents 151 teachers and other professional staffers, had been without a contract since Sept. 1. Its membersvoted March 9 to authorize a work stoppage. As talks broke down after that, the union’s membership set an April 11 strike date, with a pledge to continue negotiating.

Health insurance premiums and what percentage of those the teachers would be responsible for covering was the final issue to be settled, both sides said late lastweek.

“The current offer places the teachers in the middle of the pack for salaries and health care contributions compared to other Westmoreland County school districts,” the board said in a statement Friday, before the tentative agreement was reached.

“Even though we have made numerous offers and concessionsin this area in an attempt to meet in the middle, the board negotiators remained steadfast in their demand to unfairly increase union members’ premiums by upwards of 100%,” NKAEA President Ashley Pujol said in a statement on Thursday. “Thisis something our members simplycannot accept.”

Neither district nor union officials could be reached for commentSaturday.