Deal ends Scranton teachers’ strike, classes begin Wednesday

Students in the Scranton School District in northeastern Pennsylvania will return to class Wednesday after a tentative contract deal ended a teachers’ strike that began Sept. 25.

The Scranton Federation of Teachers had been picketing to protest efforts to cut salaries and health care benefits, and increasing classroom sizes.

The administration says the district has proposed health insurance concessions in exchange for step increase raises.

The tentative deal was struck Monday night.

The teachers were set to vote on the deal Tuesday afternoon, and it was expected to be approved. The school board must also ratify the contract, but classes and extracurricular activities were to resume.