Meridian teachers union puts potential strike on hold, for now

MACON — A meeting last week between the Meridian Board of Education and its teachers’ union in one Illinois town has left one group unhappy.

Members have voiced their displeasure with what it views as a lack of urgency in negotiations for better pay and more support. Contracts for the Meridian Federation of Teachers in Macon expired in August. Seventy teachers who are part of the bargaining unit have met with the board only six times since June.

Brian Pekovitch, teacher and president of the union, said they are seeking a resolution.

“We have another session planned with the mediator on Wednesday,” Pekovitch noted. “We’re very hopeful that we will be able to resolve these differences and come to an agreement to avoid a strike. That’s the absolute last resort that we want to have happen.”

Ninety-two percent of voting members of the union agreed last week to authorize a strike if more substantial progress is not made. The district has had difficulties even attracting substitute teachers for the school year. According to the education site niche.com, Macon County’s teacher-to-student ratio is 14-1.

Pekovitch praised the support of parents and argued teachers are shouldering more than what their job description requires, which is taking a toll. He acknowledged teaching has changed from pre-pandemic days causing classrooms to struggle to meet students’ needs. The union wants teachers to stay in the district and not seek higher salaries elsewhere.

“Our biggest thing has been just teacher retention,” Pekovitch explained. “There’s a problem with our pay when you’re looking at teachers that have longevity in the district. Once you’ve been here longer, if you have higher education, there’s just some gaps in there that we’re trying to close to keep our more experienced teachers here.”

Niche.com indicates the average teacher salary in the district is around $56,000. Pekovitch added the mindset that nice schools and newer technology alone would attract people to want to be in Macon “is just not the case anymore.” The Meridian Community Unit School District serves a little more than 900 students in grades pre-K through 12.

Terri Dee, Illinois News Connection

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• Terri Dee, Illinois News Connection

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