Wissahickon Work Stoppage Averted

In a press release from the Wissahickon Education Alliance on Friday morning stated the , has been rescinded.

According to a release from the Wisshickon School District, "While the School Board’s original intention was to meet with the WEA and state mediator John Cairnes yesterday afternoon, when the WEA-S did not show up for the meeting, an alternative plan was developed with the support of Pennsylvania Director William Gross, of the Department of Labor and Industry."

"On Thursday, the Bureau of Mediation responded to our request to assist us.  We are grateful for this assistance and owe it to this community to at least try one more time to compromise," reads the WEA release.

According to the District's release, the new plan stops the planned strike, and both sides have committed to a 45 day "cooling off period" during which no action will occur. A Nov. 29 bargaining session has been scheduled with the School Board's chief negotiator and the negotiators for the WEA-S.

Jeffrey Sultanik, the School Board's chief negotiator, said in the release that the union wants to continue with a plan that provides full time benefits for part time employees.

“The School Board is hopeful that the WEA-S uses the time between now and our November 29th session to craft a realistic plan for reaching a settlement," Sultanik said in the release.

"It is our hope, that the Board utilizes this time to rethink the hard line position they have taken with their employees," reads the WEA release.