Pa. bill would make teacher strikes illegal

    A controversial bill in Pennsylvania would make it illegal for public school teachers to go on strike. State lawmakers will host a public hearing at Neshaminy High School Thursday to discuss the plan. Under the measure, offending teachers would lose two days’ pay for each day they’re off the job. The organizing union would be slapped with a $5,000 fine. It also calls for regularly scheduled labor negotiation sessions if a contract impasse goes on too long. Republican State Representative Todd Rock of Franklin County authored the bill which he says is meant to help keep students on track during labor talks.  “As a strike happens, or even the rumors of a strike, kids minds tend to wander and they start thinking about being off next week or the next day, and really it’s tough to concentrate on what we’re trying to learn,” he said.An official with the Pennsylvania State Education Association argues that teacher strikes do not compromise student achievement and that unionized schools typically out-perform their counterparts. The measure remains in the Pennsylvania House Education Committee.

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