Duquesne teachers cancel strike plan

DUQUESNE, Pa. — Teachers in a western Pennsylvania borough have called off a walkout scheduled for Monday, saying they feared that the safety of students in the Pittsburgh-area district could have been endangered.

The Duquesne Education Association said its 35 members voted to stay on the job because officials planned to keep schools open, meaning that nine administrators and support staff would have been in charge of more than 350 pupils from kindergarten to sixth grade.

The union announced strike plans last week after the district refused to agree to arbitration to settle an extended contract dispute.   S

arah McCluan, spokeswoman for the Duquesne City School District, said administrators are pleased teachers are returning. She said the safety of the students and staff "has never and will never be consciously compromised."

WPXI