Fresno Unified press conference gets heated after latest contract negotiating session

A Fresno Unified news conference got heated on Friday when union members showed up to press Superintendent Bob Nelson on the issues involved in labor talks.

The conference was held to announce that the district and the Fresno Teachers Association failed again to reach an agreement in the latest negotiating sessions, meaning the sides will enter the “fact-finding” stage Nov. 6.

If neither side accepts that recommendations of the three-person fact-finding panel, the union could proceed to strike for the first time in nearly 40 years.

Wages, benefits and school discipline programs are among the contentious issues that FUSD is negotiating with the teachers’ association. Teachers have been working without a contract since last year.

This story was originally published October 27, 2017 at 5:45 PM with the headline "Fresno Unified press conference gets heated after latest contract negotiating session."