Madison Teachers, Board Return to Bargain Table

Madison teachers and the school board returned to the bargaining table Wednesday in hopes of reaching a contract agreement before Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Callaway decides to intervene with a court ruling, possibly later in the day.

The two sides bargained until 2:45 a.m. Tuesday (October 28) but were unable to come to an agreement on a new two-year contract.

The bargaining session began at 5 p.m. Monday in Dane County Circuit Court, under orders from Callaway, who had set a deadline of October 27 for the two sides to come to an agreement. On Monday evening, Callaway ordered the two sides into court and then set aside two courtrooms for each side to caucus.

Little face-to-face bargaining occurred, however. Mediator Bill Houlihan shuttled between the two caucuses, but it appeared that little progress was made.

At 10:35 p.m. Monday, Callaway left and Mayor Sue Baumann invited the two sides to continue working in her office, located in the same building.

However, the bargaining session ended in the early morning hours Tuesday with no agreement.

The two sides and Houlihan resumed bargaining Tuesday afternoon but were again unable to reach agreement. Callaway has said he will hold a court hearing Wednesday if no agreement is reached. At that hearing, he will consider penalties against the union for a one-day "sick-out" conducted by teachers September 5.

More on collective bargaining and the QEO law

Posted October 28, 1997; Updated October 29, 1997