D86 Teachers Show Solidarity Amid Salary Negotiations

District 86 teachers have made several public shows of solidarity recently as they negotiate with district officials salaries and benefits for the current and next school years. 

The current four-year contract between Hinsdale Township High School District 86 and the Hinsdale High School Teachers Association (HHSTA) began with the 2010-11 school year and runs through the 2013-14 school year. A clause in the contract, however, allowed for the reopening of negotiations on salary, extra-duty compensation and health insurance for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years.

"Anything to do with salary and benefits," Superintendent Nick Wahl said of what's up for negotiation.

Those negotiations were reopened last spring and there have since been numerous bargaining sessions between HHSTA and District 86 representatives.

A group of District 86 teachers attended Monday night’s District 86 Board of Education meeting at Hinsdale South, though none made any public comments.

According to The Doings Hinsdale, the group of 30 to 40 teachers were wearing blue pins that read, “Able and Willing, HHSTA.”

“It was a show of support for the negotiators,” Hinsdale South teacher-librarian and HHSTA co-president Kathy Wynn told Patch Tuesday, noting that the next negotiation session is set for Feb. 11. “This was the board meeting before that.”

Wahl said that twice in recent weeks a group of Hinsdale Central teachers have entered and exited the school together without incident at the beginning of the day and the end of the day, acts Wahl said appeared to be shows of solidarity.

Wynn and Wahl declined to comment on any points of contention between the sides.

“We’re both bargaining in good faith,” Wahl said, noting that the district’s attorney, who represents the school board, District 86 administration, and the HHSTA have agreed to keep negotiation details “between those parties.”

Board members held an executive session after Monday night’s meeting, and collective bargaining was one of the three issues Board President Dennis Brennan said would be discussed.

Wahl said no deadline is set for the conclusion of negotiations.

The current contract, according to The Doings, included salary increases of 2.4 percent for the 2010-11 school year and 3.6 percent for the 2011-12 school year.

The contract, which can be viewed on the District 86 website, provides no salary specifics for 2012-13 and 2013-14.

"This Contract shall be effective as of the 1st day of July, 2010, and shall remain in full force and effect until June 30, 2014, provided that the Board and the Association will reopen this Agreement to negotiate salary, extra duty compensation and health insurance for the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 School Years," Article III of the contract reads.

Editor's note: This article previously stated incorrectly that the group of Hinsdale Central teachers entered the administrative offices. Patch apologizes for the error.

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