Should the Naperville School District 203 teachers union opt to go on strike Wednesday, the first day it can do so legally, the action will come 30 years to the day that it last happened.
While Naperville Unit Education Association and the school district appear to be making progress on this year’s contract negotiations, having resolved a major bone of contention over family leave this past week, the issue of compensation for new teacher duties remains unresolved.
In 1991, the situation was similar in many ways. The two sides had been at the negotiating table for months, a federal mediator brought in, and money and benefits at the center of the dispute.
But the issues were also different: salary, health insurance and classes sizes as opposed to compensation and family leave.
Thirty years ago, the city — and district — were growing quickly. Naperville saw its population escalate from 42,230 to 86,958 between 1980 and 1990.
Dianne McGuire was the president of the Naperville Unit Education Association in 1991.
“(Going on strike) was perhaps the hardest decision I have ever made,” she said. “I was filled with both profound sadness and, yet, anger that after countless hours of negotiations it had come to this.”
The district had nearly 1,000 teachers then, and about 16,700 students, enrollment having grown by 3% between 1990 and 1991, according to the book, “History of Naperville Community Unit School District 203.” (By comparison, the district currently has about 1,500 teachers and about 16,500 students.)
The district’s demographics were changing as well, with an increase in the number of students in its English as a Second Language program. A survey of the class of 1990 showed more than 90% of graduating seniors planned to go to a two- or four-year college/university, far higher than the national percentage at the time.
Teachers wanted a higher salary increase than the district was proposing, in part because the district wanted a freeze on how much it paid for its share of health insurance. Were that to happen, union members would see any raise eroded by having to pay more for insurance.
Negotiations were tough — more than one mediation session was suspended because the two sides were “substantially far apart,” according to published reports.
Talks stalled Aug. 21, four days before school was to start. McGuire said she was “tired, emotionally drained and very disappointed” when no progress was made.
Mike Kiser, District 203′s then-assistant superintendent of personnel, remained optimistic, saying they were “unhappy that we don’t have an agreement today. But there is no reason this can’t be settled in four days.”
One day later, union members voted 755-59 to strike on the first day of classes.
Letters sent to the Naperville Sun and public comments reported in newspaper stories showed the community was equally divided.
“Let’s stand behind the backbone of our school system and not compromise the quality of our prestigious school system,” one resident wrote in support of the teachers.
But another was adamant that the district — and residents — couldn’t afford to pay more.
“We are all aware of our high taxes, the need to balance a budget and the increasing cost of living,” the writer said. “Despite these issues, we need to be able to count on an open, functional school district. ... It’s time to go back to school.”
When negotiations remained at a stalemate Aug. 26, teachers walked out Aug. 27.
Teachers set up picket lines outside their schools. Rallies in support of both sides were held.
It would take four lost days of school and hours of negotiations before the two-sides reached an agreement in the early hours of Sept. 2, which happened to be Labor Day.
The deal called for 6% raises each year. It was approved by 97% of union members the same day. Everyone went back to school the next morning.
Prior to the 1991 strike, Naperville 203 teachers had only walked out once before — for two days in 1979.
raguerrero@tribpub.com
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Naperville D203 hasn't had a teachers strike since 1991 — a situation both similar and not to what's happening now - Chicago Tribune
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