ORANGE

Orange Unified School District officials are expected to respond favorably today to a June 19 request from the teachers union to return to the negotiating table. Talks stalled June 4 when the Orange Unified Education Assn. narrowly defeated a two-year contract providing teachers with wage increases of 8.48% to 13.34%. Union representatives said they vetoed the contract because few teachers will receive the higher pay increases and because of its reduction of health benefits, especially for veteran teachers. According to district spokeswoman Judy Frutig, the district’s chief negotiator, James Bowles said he will discuss the contract currently on the table with union representatives but is not willing to restart the collective bargaining process.