BETHLEHEM, Pa. – In a special meeting, the Bethlehem Area School District Board of School Directors on Tuesday approved a fact-finder’s recommendations regarding the district’s contract dispute with Teamsters Local 773.
The recommendations were issued by fact-finder Barbara Lichtman in her final report on Aug. 31 and concern the bargaining dispute between the district and the union, which represents the district’s clerical and secretarial employees.
The collective bargaining agreement between BASD and Teamsters Local 773 expired June 30. According to board documents, the parties had been engaged in formal negotiations since Oct. 1 and had exchanged numerous proposals without reaching an agreement.
Teamsters Local 773 is a union representing workers across various industries in Eastern Pennsylvania and is part of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, according to the organization’s website.
The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board appointed Lichtman as fact-finder on July 21. Lichtman issued her final report Aug. 31, following a fact-finding hearing held Aug. 13, according to board documents.
Under the Pennsylvania Public Employee Relations Act, the district had 10 days to notify the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board whether it would accept or reject the fact-finder’s recommendations, according to board documents.