Members of the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 School Board were informed at their monthly meeting Monday evening that the union representing the teachers filed with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board an unfair labor charge. The union represents 129 teachers.

Talks had been ungoing since January 2009 for a new contract which expired in September 2009. The charge alleges that the board has failed to negotiate in good faith bargaining. A hearing has been scheduled for January 4 at the Labor and Industry Building in Harrisburg. Board President William Davidson declined further comment.Other alleged charges listed included the following:Freezng salary step gains made in previous collective bargaining agreements; threatening the employees with subcontracting in the event offers by the employer are not accepted; threatening to lower and change employee positions to coerce the employees to accept employer positions; engaged in negative bargaining by offering less than the existing status quo relative to wages and benefits; refused to meet at regular and frequent times and dates; directed the teachers association to take back employer offers to the body of the teachers association for ratification; refused to meet with teachers association representatives unless those officers are submitted to the teacher association's membership; refused to cooperate with the mediator; and refused to supply information requested by the teachers association that is necessary for bargaining purposes.Last July both sides rejected a state fact-finder's report and the two parties last met at the bargaining table was in July.