By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Monday is an off day for students who attend the Freeburg, Ill. Elementary School in the Metro-East. Teachers there are on strike after rejecting a contract offer last week. The strike affects more than 800 students.
Teachers' union president Steven Woodward says the main problem point is a proposed 10% cap on increases in health insurance premiums. Teachers would be required to cover any increases above that.
Superintendent Rob Hawkins says it's a hard issue to resolve and neither side is budging. The rejected contract also offered salary increases of more than 4% each year for three years.
Freeburg is about 9 miles southeast of Belleville.