Suburban Valley View teachers and staff vote to authorize strike

Teachers and staff in the 10th largest school district in Illinois could soon trade walking school hallways for walking a picket line.

Members of the Valley View Council, serving Romeoville and Bolingbrook students of District 365U, voted Thursday to authorize a strike amid negotiation stalls after eight months at the bargaining table, the Illinois Federation of Teachers announced.

Nearly 96% of voting Valley View Council members voted in support of the strike, IFT said.

The vote does not guarantee a strike but gives the union's bargaining team the authority to call one if a fair agreement cannot be reached, IFT said.

"The Valley View Council believes in our dedicated staff, maintaining fiscal responsibility, and expanding opportunities for students,” said Valley View Council President