Westlake Teachers Threaten Strike

Westlake teachers have become increasingly frustrated after months of negotiations, so much so, they are now threatening to strike reports Cleveland.com.

A letter from from Westlake Teachers Association leaders states:

"This culture of fear permeates each building, seeps into each corner and is slowly killing the standards of excellence in Westlake. As teachers we desperately want the culture of excellence to return."

However, Westlake schools superintendent, Geoff Palmer says that he is unaware of of a possible strike.

"That's a very surprising statement to me," teachers association spokeswoman, Loretta Tindall told Cleveland.com. "Teachers have been expressing their frustrations with salaries and the lack of materials at public board meetings since December."

Westlake teachers have been working without a contract since the beginning of the school year. Westlake voters have said no to three levies, the most recent defeat in May 2015.

In a meeting last Friday, the school board made a final offer which the teachers responded with the statement "We do not want to strike but we will."

Palmer says that the recent offer included salary increases and health care concessions however, Tindall said that the offer was "illusionary."

The teachers plan to discuss the offer in a meeting on Friday. After the meeting the teachers will receive a hard copy of the offer and then have 48 hours to vote it down or accept the offer. If the teachers vote the offer down, the school board can either return to the bargaining table or implement its final offer. Implementing the final offer would force a strike, Tindall said.