Teachers from the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, their union, and district officials will return to the bargaining table to try to come up with a new contract that satisfies everyone involved.   The teachers encouraged the further attempts to prevent serious action by the union in hopes that a settlement can be reached. 

According to union president Nancy Dunn, “It is not enough for you to send your team back to the table unless you have also given them parameters allowing for settlement.  So often discussions were impossible because our creative solutions were outside of your parameters”.

Several issues caused the impasse in contract talks, including aspects of a new wage-and-benefit pact, unpaid adjunct duty hours, and class size. 

School Superintendent Kris Corey believes a settlement is still possible and stated, “We will continue to work together and the district is open to additional negotiating until a mediator is determined,” she wrote.  “We are confident that we are close to an agreement, as we have agreed on many issues already. ”

The efforts on behalf of teachers and others affected by the issues within the Fairfield-Suisun School District come as teachers from area districts, including Calaveras and Petaluma, recently went on strike.  If a settlement cannot be reached via the latest round of talks, formal mediation would be the next step to help parties avoid a strike and to avoid litigation.  Mediation would provide both sides with guidance and support, though a mediator would not have the power to implement a solution.  The process would be confidential.