“Wyoming Area labor issue apparently resolved - Wilkes Barre Times-Leader” plus 1 more

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Wyoming Area labor issue apparently resolved - Wilkes Barre Times-Leader Posted: 29 Aug 2019 08:33 PM PDT A statement posted on the Wyoming Area School District website Thursday night indicated that an issue with the teachers union that threatened to lead to a work stoppage had been resolved. The upshot: classes should be held Tuesday. - EXETER — The teachers union for the Wyoming Area School District issued a media release Thursday announcing teachers "will be gathering outside of the Intermediate Center" on Tuesday rather than heading into the classroom, but the district later posted a statement on its website saying the problem had been resolved. The upshot: classes should be held Tuesday. The union had put the blame for the "work stoppage" squarely on the shoulder of the district and School Board," calling it a "lockout," not a strike. The district posting said the two sides had reached a "tentative agreement to extend" the current contract until August 2020. "The board enters into this agreement to avoid certain disruption to our student education, legal ramifications and significant associated costs." the post said. The earlier union release contended the School board "violated the terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement" with the union "resulting in an illegal lockout of its professional teaching staff," the release said. The union argues that, at a non-public executive session on Tuesday the School Board voted to break the contract by refusing "to authorize already negotiated pay increases" which in turn "is resulting in an illegal lockout of its workforce. The term "lockout" refers to the physical act of locking the doors and preventing workers from getting in and doing there job, but there are other legal definitions, including coercing a change in conditions or compensation of employees. The union has filed an unfair labor practice "for failure to follow an arbitration award," the union release notes. "Our courts have already held that in this situation that locals should receive the salary increases provided for in the contract. The board's refusal to follow the law will result in greater costs to the taxpayers due to the unnecessary litigation that will result due to their reckless conduct." Union President Melissa Dolman expressed disappointment, quoted in the release saying that teachers "want to be in our classrooms educating our students." The current contract expires Saturday. Typically, if a an agreement isn't reached before a contract expires, teachers continue to work under the terms of the expired contract until an new contract is worked out. Such a situation keeps teacher salaries unchanged until the new contract goes into effect. "This situation has nothing to do with bargaining," Dolman is quoted as saying. "It has everything to do with the fact that the school board is blatantly breaking the law and disregarding the current agreement that was negotiated and agreed upon." The district posting promises "The Board remains committed to working to find savings for the residents of the District. The Board will continue to address savings in wages, health care, and costly benefits in a time of extreme financial challenges within the District." A statement posted on the Wyoming Area School District website Thursday night indicated that an issue with the teachers union that threatened to lead to a work stoppage had been resolved. The upshot: classes should be held Tuesday. Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish

Arts at Hayfield event offers a wide variety of vendors - Wilkes Barre Times-Leader Posted: 25 Aug 2019 05:39 PM PDT Vendors lined University Drive for the Arts at Hayfield summer festival on Sunday afternoon. - Kevin Carroll | Times Leader DALLAS — Looking for a new broom, some Halloween decorations or even just some dog treats? The Summer Festival presented by Arts at Hayfield has got you covered. For more than 30 years, the festival has played host to some of the most unique vendors spanning the Wyoming Valley, and this year was no different as Penn State Wilkes-Barre played host to a variety of kiosks and businesses looking to peddle their wares to the public on Sunday. An endless expanse of tents lined University Drive as onlookers passed by, looking for their next vintage T-shirt or a shag carpet for their home. Some came with an item in mind, while others just came to check out the scenery and perhaps stumble on something that they just couldn't live without. "I didn't have anything in particular, but my wife does — the jewelry," said Bob Angeli, who was attending the festival for the first time in a long time. There were plenty of jewelry vendors for those looking to accessorize, with various tents selling hand-made earrings, necklaces and bracelets. While this may have been a summer festival, fall was definitely on the mind of many of the vendors with Halloween decorations and autumn-appropriate clothing being found all over the place. There was also live music for visitors to enjoy, from both the stage and just walking around the tents. Scott McDonald, a student at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, has been playing guitar for four years and provided an alternate source of entertainment for festival-goers. "I'm just wandering around my guitar, hoping people will listen," said McDonald, a self-taught player who knocked out picture-perfect renditions of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here and "Wonderwall" from Oasis. For those looking for something a bit more classical, Christine Eyer, a member of one of the many bands performing on Sunday, could be spotted walking around with her fiddle, cranking out some old-style sounds, much to the delight of people passing by. "I've been playing 16 or 17 years," Eyer said. There were plenty of baked goods stands around the campus, but for Cakes by Gail, this was much more than just another festival. Gail Biniek, the owner and namesake of the company, has a rare form of leukemia known as myelodysplasia syndrome, a disease that only has one known cure: a stem cell transplant. "I"m having a benefit for her over at the Breslau Fire Hall," said Gail's daughter, Christine. The benefit runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 29 in Hanover Township, and the Binieks say that they've already got five different bands ready to play for the charitable cause. Donations can be made by contacting Christine on the Cakes by Gail Facebook page. Arts at Hayfield will be running another festival entitled "Homespun Holiday" from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 3 in the athletics and commons buildings at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Vendors lined University Drive for the Arts at Hayfield summer festival on Sunday afternoon.

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