Teacher Talks Show Progress

Af eight-htmr bargaining ] sion which was "extremely productive" and produced s o m e "real major aceomplishments" on non-economie issues was held yesterday by negotiators for the Board of Education and the Ann Arbor Education Association. No economie issues were discussed. The two sides are stalemated on the important economie issues of salary and fringe benefits. A state mediator wil! arrive Tuesday and will attempt to help the teams reach a settlement for a 1968-69 contract. Three of the items agreed upon yesterday were the grievanee procedure, discipline policies and the "agency shop" provisión. This latter provisión, which was included in last year's contract, required that all teachers join the AAEA or pay a fee equal to the local dues and assessments of the association. Se ven Ann Arbor teachers Irefused to comply with the provisión last year, and filedjl suit in February in the Wash-'J enaw Circuit Court, chargingj the provisión is illegal. A deci-j sion has not yet been rendered. I Spokesmen for the Board of Education and the teachers' association declined to comment on the terms of the "agency shop" agreement iintill a final contract is ratified. Harold Collins, president ofl the AAEA, said only "a few'i non economie items remain tol be settled, and he hopes "wel can come to an agreement onl these remaining issues quick-l ly" Thomas W. Hill, professional negotiator for the Board of Education, agreed that enough items have been settled so "mediation should be méaningful." The two teams will attempt to schedule one more meeting - either on Monday or Tuesday morning - before Mediator Robert Blackwell arrivés Tuesday at 10 a.m. He is expected to remain through Wednesday.