53 Rhode Island Teachers Freed After Strike Accord Is Reached

Rhode Island teachers reached a tentative agreement Friday in their strike, allowing 53 violators of a back-to-work order to be freed from jail, but picket lines remained up at schools in five states, affecting 68,000 students.

In the nation’s largest walkout, negotiators in Seattle met for the second time in 24 hours at the urging of a state mediator. More than 300 teachers began a new walkout in Marlboro, N.J.

A Monday strike date was set in Bucks County, Pa., by 600 teachers who planned to negotiate through the weekend. A walkout would affect 9,000 students.

Other Teacher Walkouts

Teacher strikes affected 43,500 students in Seattle, 18,500 in Pennsylvania, 2,000 in Ohio, 3,600 in New Jersey and 1,400 in Illinois.

Terms of the tentative three-year agreement reached at 2 a.m. Friday in Pawtucket, R.I., were not released. It was being submitted later in the day to teachers for a ratification vote.

Pawtucket Mayor Henry Kincha said: “It’s a fair deal for both sides.”

The proposed settlement allowed the freeing of 53 teachers sent to jail on contempt of court charges, including 17 teachers who were the latest to be fined on Thursday.

8,500 Students Stay Home

Classes for about 8,500 students at the Rhode Island district’s 15 schools have been canceled since the start of the Sept. 4 strike.

In the nation’s newest dispute, more than 300 Marlboro, N.J., teachers walked off the job Friday, but classes were held with substitutes after a two-hour delay. Negotiations were continuing.

A new bargaining session was also started Friday in the 14-day strike by 3,700 Seattle teachers, aides, substitutes and secretaries.