"An Act relating to strikes by employees of a municipal school district, a regional educational attendance area, or a state boarding school, and requiring notice of at least 72 hours of a strike by those employees."

Senate Bill 95 would require public school employees to provide a school district with written notice of an impending strike at least 72 hours prior to any labor action. This bill would protect students and give parents adequate time to be notified of a change in the school schedule.

Current labor regulations allow public school employees to strike without prior warning to the school district or the community. Without a provision mandating proper notice, student safety is severely compromised. School districts would be unable to alert parents to the possible closure of schools. Students could possibly arrive to near-empty school buildings, buses may not arrive to pick up waiting students, and parents may not have been informed of these circumstances.

Seventy-two hours gives parents sufficient time to make alternative arrangements if schools are actually going to be closed. In order for school district personnel to assure the safety and well being of students during a change of work status, there must be adequate time to prepare for changes to the school day.

The primary purpose of Senate Bill 95 is to allow time for a school district to make the best decision and to inform students, parents and the community of that decision. I urge your support of the legislation.

Last Updated: 03/18/2003

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