Today would have been the day that nearly 700 special education personnel were to go on strike in the Lehigh Valley, Pa. area, but the educators came to an agreement with management on Friday, ending the threat of the walkout.
The Allentown Morning Call reported that the two sides came to an agreement Sept. 19. Teachers are set to vote on the deal Tuesday, with support staff voting on Thursday. The employees all work for Colonial Intermediate Union 20, one of 29 entities in Pennsylvania that provide direct special education instruction, among other services, to school districts. IU20 serves 13 school districts in Monroe, Northampton, and Pike counties.
The strike, had it gone forward, would have been the first for one of the intermediate units in more than 20 years, according to the Morning Call.