CHICAGO ― Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP partner Anthony Ficarelli recently represented Huntley Consolidated School District 158 (Illinois) in successfully concluding highly contentious labor negotiations with its teachers. The parties agreed on a three-year collective bargaining agreement, which replaces the one that expired on June 30, 2008. District 158 includes approximately 8,200 students in Algonquin, Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Lakewood and Union.
The district and the teachers settled their differences after the teachers engaged in a two-day strike. But many observers had anticipated that the labor stoppage would last much longer as the differences between the parties were great, and federal mediators were called in to help resolve the issues. Marathon sessions held over several days were ultimately engaged in to reach the settlement.
District 158 and the teachers have stated that they accomplished their respective goals and that the resulting settlement was fair to all parties. As a result of the agreement, classes are again in session.
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