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Show Garfield County Teachers Set To Strike Teachers in Garfield County, through their teachers' union, sent a letter to all Garfield County post office boxholders threatening to strike over sought-after salary increases in-creases as the Utah State Legislature Legis-lature wrestles with funding legislation legis-lation for Utah schools. The letter, addressed to parents, was signed only "Garfield Education Association" which would include Garfield County teachers who are members of the union. The GEA is an affiliate of the Utah Education Association which has been lobbying heavily in the Wasatch Front area for increased teacher salaries. The UEA in turn is an affiliate of the National Education Association. "If in fact a teacher walkout takes place," said Garfield County School Board President Marc McLemore, "it is the intent of the school board to close the schools for the safety of the students and we would provide as much advance notice as possible. "But," he said, "as a school board member and as a parent, I would be unhappy if the teachers elect to strike in violation of their contract." McLemore said that at last week's school board meeting, an executive session was held to discuss the legislation. He said the Utah Education Association is asking for a 7 percent increase while the legislature is at about 5.25 percent on funding. Teachers have lobbied heavily in the Wasatch Front area for higher teacher salaries and presidents of dozens of local school district unions from all over the state' gathered in Salt Lake City on Saturday to challenge the budget plan that calls for a 7.424 overall increase in public school funding which fails to meet Gov. Mike Leavitt's expectations for teachers. |
