Irvine Teachers Strike in Protest

Attendance at Irvine Unified schools was down 10% to 20% today, but school district officials said no serious problems resulted from a one-day teachers’ strike called to protest stalled contract renegotiations.

Irvine Teachers Assn. officials estimated that 550 of the district’s 750 teachers took part in the walkout, but Supt. A. Stanley Corey said more than enough substitutes were on hand to conduct all scheduled classes. The teachers are seeking to renegotiate a cost-of-living provision in a two-year contract that runs until June 30. Union President Ken Horner said the teachers and the district are also in disagreement on health insurance costs and whether union membership should be mandatory for all teachers.