Slow movement in Medford teacher contract negotiations

By Ashley Carrasco / KTVL.COM MEDFORD - After months of dispute over new contract terms, Medford teachers officially went on strike at 6 am Thursday February 6, 2014. The school district and education association negotiated for 22 hours Wednesday. Just when it looked like progress was being made, they hit a wall. We waited for 12 hours between offers from them and when we gave them a written offer, nothing came back so we had to push back, well what about some more things, says Superintendent Phil Long. The latest offers on the table are Supposal, meaning the terms listed cannot be discussed with the public. Both parties are having trouble compromising over the length of the contract, salary, retirement plans, and insurance for teachers. Long says, It isn't fair to not count what we contributed in insurance, but to count in the cost of living too. We double pay.Teachers on the picket line are emotional after what some describe as a heartbreaking decision to go on strike. School Psychologist, December, describes her last day at school as horrible.Lots of kids that were crying and fighting and arguing and adults crying, classrooms being emptied. It was awful, emphasizes Tuller. The children on the picket line are as young as 6 years old. Each child says all they want is justice for their teachers and most of all for their peers. Just get me back to school and get smarter, says first grader, Nash. Cheryl Lashley with the Education Association says teachers are disappointed with the latest offer that has been presented. Picketers say they won't give up until their demands are met. We're making the right choice. It's not an easy choice but we're definitely making the right choice and hope that that settlement come quickly.Long is hoping both parties can find a compromise on new contract terms Saturday, February 8, 2014. He wants students to return to class with their usual teachers Monday. We're not going to bargain against ourselves. We're here for resources for kids , to value our teachers but to make sure we can have a full year of school, stresses Long.