Hide Article Text (OCR)
Bristol Borough teachers have reached a tentative contract agreement with the borough school board. it was reported yes terday. After a 15-hour, last-minute negotiating session which ended at 5 a.m. yesterday, preliminary indications are the two-year con tract dispute is at an end. The Bristol Borough Education Association, representing the teachers, had vowed to strike if there was no contract by the time school opened next week. A strike vote was scheduled for 8 p.m. Monday and all indications were the teachers would not be on the job Tuesday morning. Now the BBEA officers are expected to recommend accept ance of the contract to the mem bership Monday night. The two sides never got togeth er last year and the teachers worked without a contract. They were unable at the time to strike legally. Since the passage of the new Public Employees Act 195, how ever, teachers are legally allowed to strike after exhausting speci fied alternatives in achieving a contract agreement. Wednesday night's meeting viewed as the last chance for both sides to get together and first re ports are they did. School Board President Sidney Popkin called the marathon an “excellent session.’ He added, “There was great rapport be tween the negotiators.” Russ Walsh, president of the BBEA, credited Edward Feehan, the state appointed mediator in the dispute, with the successful negotiations. “It was his baby,” Walsh said, “He suggested some agreements and we went along.” The newly-elected teachers’ head was groggy yesterday as he discussed the session. “‘I feel pooped,’’ he said, ‘But a hell of a lot better than I did at 7 or 8 o’ clock last night. Things were going bad and then they just start ed to fall into place. “I'd rather not discuss specifics of the contract.’’ he continued, “until I get it back to the teachers for their ratification.” Endorse Agreement Walsh said he and the other negotiators will endorse the ten tative agreement to the teachers Monday night at the Harriman United Methodist Church, across Wilson Ave. from Bristol High School. He went down to the high school yesterday afternoon to join other teachers and school admin istrators in an orientation pro gram for new teachers in the bor ough school system. All teachers probably will be back on the job Tuesday morning for a day of preparation before schools open Wednesday.
Newspaper Details
Bucks County Courier Times
Levittown, Pennsylvania, US
Fri, Sep 03, 1971
Page 46
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
