Negotiation Tactics Under Question

The Ottawa teacher’s union doesn’t think the school board is playing fair.

The union has filed an unfair labor practice suit with the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board.  The union accuses the board of “making a regressive proposal” and “placing pre-conditions on negotiation meetings”.  This has to do with the board’s insistence that teachers show them new proposals in writing before a negotiation meeting actually takes place.

The labor relations board will now investigate the teacher’s claim and see if a formal complaint and hearing is needed.

Swine Flu Vaccine Arriving

The first supplies of H1N1, or swine flu vaccines have arrived in La Salle County.

The vaccines are in the nasal spray form and are only to be given to people ages 2 thru 49 without underlying medical conditions, including pregnant women.  Hospitals are expected to also receive swine flu vaccine.

Jenny Barrie with the La Salle County Health Department says they will eventually have swine flu clinics geared towards students from preschool thru high school.    They’ll be offering clinics at schools and daycare centers.

Barrie says they expect the vaccines for swine flu shots in the coming weeks.

Could Board Hire Replacement Teachers?

Other schools have done it; even Major League Baseball did it, hiring replacement teachers or workers during a strike.

While the Ottawa High School Board has made no mention of hiring temporary, replacement teachers so that classes start again, it is a possibility. 

Regional Superintendent of Schools Rich Myers says he’s seen eight teacher strikes in La Salle County and none have ended up with replacement teachers.  If that happens with Ottawa High, Myers says his office and the state will be involved in picking replacements, making sure they are qualified.

Longtime Holiday Parade In Danger

A longtime holiday tradition in Ottawa could be on its last hurrah.

 The owners of Gillette Parade Products in Ottawa are retiring, leaving the annual Festival of Lights Parade in major doubt.  Don and Betty Gillette have furnished over 20 floats for the parade for the past 21 years. They’ll do the same for the 22^nd annual parade which is November 27^th.

Mayor Bob Eschbach says unless someone buys their company on Boyce Memorial Drive, he isn’t sure where they’ll get floats next year for the parade.