MASON — Members of the Mason Education Association voted overwhelmingly Wednesday night to proceed with plans to strike, which would be the first such action in district history.

        The union, which represents all but a dozen of 468 teachers in the district, voted to go on strike Oct. 29 if a resolution is not reached between the union and the Mason Board of Education.

        Maria Correale, MEA spokeswoman, said that the date was chosen so as not to interfere with students' proficiency tests, which are administered the week of Oct. 22.

        Though 95 percent of the 400 teachers who attended a union meeting Wednesday at Mason High School voted to strike, the MEA and the board are still in negotiations.

        Bargaining teams for the union and the board will meet with federal mediators Oct. 17 to see if they can come to an agreement on a new contract. In September, the MEA voted 397-29 to reject a proposed contract. It was the second proposal the MEA rejected since July.

        The MEA's two-year contract expired in June and negotiations have been taking place since March. The two sides are divided on issues related to working conditions, including binding arbitration and salaries.

        “We have high hopes that (Wednesday's vote) will be a good thing, setting a positive tone for the Oct. 17 meeting,” Mrs. Correale said. “This is looming over everybody's heads. Our greatest desire is to have resolution on the 17th.”

        It has not been disclosed what salary demands the union is seeking.

        Mrs. Correale said Wednesday's meeting had been planned for weeks as a response to a scheduled board meeting Oct. 9. The union had expected to review a new proposed contract.

        But the board canceled that meeting.

        The MEA's negotiating teamwill meet today with the board's attorney.

        “The bargaining process is not over, despite the decision reached by the MEA this afternoon,” said Marianne Culbertson, president of the Mason Board of Education. "If both sides come to the table on Oct. 17 willing to listen and compromise, we can avert an action that will severely divide this community.”

        Sue Kiesewetter contributed to this report.
       

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