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Sep 4, 2008 8:32 pm US/Eastern

Duquesne Teachers, Officials Reach Tentative Deal

Reporting
Mary Robb Jackson

DUQUESNE (KDKA) ― A three day strike by teachers in Duquesne City Schools in grades K -8 over low wages appears to be over.

A tentative deal must still be ratified by the state board of control which oversees the distressed district, but teachers gave the OK this afternoon.

"We've come up with a tentative agreement, we're waiting for ratification. Details will be forthcoming and we do expect schools to be open tomorrow morning," says Tom Sturm, who handles communications for the Duquesne Education Association.

The agreement does not appear to be close to the 19-percent wage increase that the teachers were asking for. "Am I happy? As in most negotiations - no I'm not happy. I'd like to have gotten more," Sturm said. "We're behind in inflation, the C.P.I, we're still behind, but today's over and there'll be tomorrow."

Parents, like Tammy Simmons who has five children, and has been juggling schedules was thrilled that the kids are going back to class, "Oh that's great!"

Sturm added, "The teachers made a decision they wanted to help the students and come back."

The teachers' current contract expires in June of next year. Negotiations for a new contract begin in January.