The Granite Education Association has asked a federal mediator to invite Granite School District negotiators back to the table to try to resolve remaining hurdles to a contract for the 1990-91 school year.
"Both sides have had a chance to cool off and consider what is at stake," the union said. "There is every reason to believe that the issues remaining can be settled through negotiations."McKell Withers, a member of the administration negotiating team, said that as of Monday evening he was unaware of any official notification of the GEA's desire to resume talks, although the union had sent news releases to the media.
However, he said, "We're ready to meet. If going to mediation a third time will settle us, we're willing to do that."
The district already had implemented what it hoped was a final settlement, Withers said, although the two sides continued to differ over a question of retroactive pay for year-round teachers.
The district said it had warned the union early in negotiations that if a settlement was not reached by July 1, no retroactive pay would be given. GEA said there was no such formal agreement and it wants to continue to discuss the issue.
On salaries, the district and GEA are very close to agreement. The district has offered a 6.36 percent increase and the union has asked for 6.5 percent. GEA also has asked for a $300 increase on the 20th salary step, giving veteran teachers a small raise over the general percentage.