Negotiations an issue across the state

The issues between the two local organizations are not unique in the state.

There are currently 47 mediation cases involving school districts before the Division of Labor Relations, with 27 of those cases involving teachers, according to Linnea Walsh, the communications director of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development

The Division of Labor Relations is the third party that provides the mediator once an impasse is reached in negotiations. The state has a process for dealing with impasses in negotiations in the laws.

According to state law, "if the impasse continues after the conclusion of mediation, either party or the parties acting jointly may petition the board to initiate fact-finding proceedings."

The state's labor relation board appoints a fact-finder from a predetermined list or another party agreed to by both parties.

The fact-finder is be subject to the rules of the state, has the power to mediate and to make recommendations for the resolution of the impasse.

The fact-finder is responsible for telling the state and the negotiating parties the recommendations for the resolution within 30 days after the record is closed.

"If the impasse remains unresolved 10 days after the transmittal of such findings and recommendations, the board shall make them public," according to the law.

Arbitration is the next step in the process if an agreement is not reached with the fact-finder's recommendation.

Both of the negotiating parties can mutually agree to extend the timelines.