Teacher's Union Presses on Mayor to Sign Home Rule Legislation

The Springfield Education Association is once again flooding city hall with phone calls, asking Mayor Charles Ryan to sign home rule legislation, passed unanimously by the city council, that would shorten the time to impasse and require binding arbitration once impasse is reached. Tim Collins, President for the SEA, said he did not know why the mayor was being uncooperative. Collins said he had plans to meet with the mayor on Friday to discuss the matter. In the meantime, the union leader encouraged Springfield's residents and union member to continue making phone calls asking him to sign the legislation. The mayor's number is 787-6100. The mayor was unavailable for comment and was out of town, according to an aide.