(Host) Teachers in two Vermont school districts are urging their school boards to resume contract talks.
Teachers in the Chittenden East Supervisory Union held an informational picket outside the Jericho Elementary school on Wednesday.
They’ve been working for 71 weeks without a contract.
And members of the Addison Northeast Supervisory Union plan to picket Thursday at Mount Abraham High School. The issue there is a $4000 dollar-a-year pay cut.
The protests come on the heels of contract disputes in Barre and Winooski.
Darren Allen of the Vermont NEA says the number of teacher contract disputes can rise or fall depending on the economic climate.
Allen says the more important issue for teachers has to do with school boards that refuse to compromise.
(Allen) "We are concerned when boards simply walk away from the table and simply say "we’re not going to negotiate and we’re not going to compromise".
(Host) Allen says both local unions would like to see a compromise, and are asking that the school boards return to the negotiating table.