IBEW supports striking educators at Lake-Lehman

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.citizensvoice.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18924942&BRD=2259&PAG=461&dept_id=455154&rfi=6

— ELIZABETH SKRAPITS
10/17/2007

LEHMAN TWP. — The Lake-Lehman school Board president belongs to a union that is siding with the teachers in the ongoing contract dispute.


Board President Charles Balavage and the rest of the district’s negotiating committee want teachers to contribute toward their health insurance premiums.

But International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 163 made a statement Monday that Balavage, a member since 1979, was acting on his own ideals, not the union’s.

“Mr. Balavage works under a collective bargaining agreement with a full health benefit, annuity and pension,” the statement reads. “Local Union 163 sympathizes with the Lake-Lehman teachers for better wages and conditions, which currently are one of the lowest paid teachers associations in Luzerne County.”

The electricians union released the statement after the teachers union called to ask if it was in line with Balavage’s beliefs, IBEW Local 163 spokesman John Olejnik said.

“They were concerned that perhaps (Balavage’s stance) reflected our views, and it doesn’t,” he said.

FULL story at link.