Judge Extends Temporary Injunction In Madison Contract Dispute
Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Callaway has extended his temporary
restraining order in the Madison teachers contract dispute to October
27, and Madison Teachers Inc. postponed a general membership meeting scheduled
for Sunday, September 28. (Note: Callaway initially set the deadline
for November 2 but later moved it up to October 27).
In effect, Callaway gave Madison Teachers Inc. and the board five more
weeks to come to an agreement.
In the meantime, the temporary injunction requires the board and union
to continue bargaining, and both sides must assign to the table people
with the power to make decisions. It also continues to bar the union from
conducting concerted actions to withhold contract services.
Callaway said that if the contract is not settled by October 27, both
sides must come to the courtroom and stay until they reach an agreement.
He said he would personally stay until an agreement is reached.
In other words, if the two sides cannot reach agreement, he will use
the power of the court to bring about a settlement.
Callaway acknowledged that some progress has been made since his initial
September 5 court order and he hopes this new ruling will be enough to
spur a settlement.
Callaway became involved in the contract dispute in early September after
the board and the union each filed suit. The lawsuits followed a one-day
work stoppage that closed most Madison schools September 5. The board
filed suit seeking to order the teachers back to work and to penalize
them, and MTI filed suit seeking to force the board to bargain in good
faith. MTI argued that the board was not using negotiators who had power
to make decisions.
On September 5, in Callaway's courtroom, the teachers and school board
agreed to a 21-day cooling off period during which bargaining continued.
Callaway gave the two sides until September 26 to reach an agreement.
Since no agreement was reached, they retured to court for the latest ruling.
Posted September 26, 1997; Updated October 1, 1997