Act 88 sets rules for teachers union strikes that are designed to make work stoppages less disruptive for students and promote productive bargaining. Here's some highlights:
- During the union's first strike, work stoppages can only continue as long as students can complete 180 days by June 15.
- Districts are forced to make up strike days by holding class on all possible days, including previously scheduled holidays.
- Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Years Day and Memorial Day , are state-mandated holidays and cannot be used to make up strike days.
- Districts can also declare a certain number of local holidays. For example, Line Mountain School District selected Christmas Eve, New Years Eve and several other days as local holidays.
- Unions must strike continuously - no breaks between strike days.
- A union must give a 48-hour notice before striking.
- The district cannot employ strikebreakers during a first strike.
- At the conclusion of the strike, the union and the school board must enter into non-binding arbitration before a second strike can occur.
- If a second strike occurs students must be able to complete 180 days before June 30.
- If the second strike occurs because the union rejected the arbitrator's report, the district can employ strikebreakers.
- If the parties agree to arbitration or fact-finding at any point in time, a strike must be halted until the report or findings is rejected by at least one party.