Contract Dispute Enters Second Stage

The Burlington School Committee's contrest dispute with "00 striking Burlington Sunday when strike mediator Archibold Cox '34. Williston Professor of Law. Presented his findings and recommendations to negotiators.

Each party must either accept or reject Cox's recommendations for a new teachers' contract. Thomas Michael, acting superintendent of the Burlington Schools, said yesterday. Cox reportedly will not neogiate his recommendations.

Michael said that the school committee has accepted Cox's recommendations. However. Members of the Burlington Educators Association (BEA) bargaining agent for the teachers will not set on Cox's recommendations without their four leaders who were jailed last Wednesday a BEA spokesman said yesterday.

Released

The four BEA officers, who received seven-day sentences for violating a court order against the strike, will be released this morning.

Cox's recommendation placed a three-week moratorium on any lawsuit or proceeding - new or pending - that relates to the strike but added that this does not apply to efforts to shorten the four BEA officers sentences.

Attorneys for the teachers had asked the probate court to free the BEA officers pending the mediation and also pending an appeal to a higher court.

The Cox report also states that "only compromise can prevent grave and lasting harm to the whole (Burlington) community." A court order last Friday closed all Burlington Schools until the school committee and BEA agree on a contract thus ending the strike.

Salary Increases

Cox recommended a new salary schedule to begin January I which calls for increases, although BEA spokesmen said the initial raise in base salaries is smaller than teachers had hoped.

His report also dealt with problems that may result once the wage issue is settled Cox called for a resumption of classes as soon as teachers and students can be notified, overruled any disciplinary action against teachers who participated in the strike and assumed authority over additional issues that may arise.

BEA members began their strike against the Burlington schools September 20 after a ten-month salary dispute failed to result in satisfactory pay scales for both sides Spokesmen at BEA claimed that the school committee had failed to bargain in good faith.

They said that the school committee had ignored telegrams and phone calls that asked for discussion sessions on the salary issue.

The BEA has apparently received much popular support in its protest. A candelight vigil held Saturday night on Burlington Common in honor of the four failed BEA officers drew over 700 people a BEA spokesman said.