Mars Area faculty has now been working more than 130 days without a new contract, since its previous contract expired this summer.

ADAMS TWP — The Mars Area Education Association (MAEA) voted this week to authorize its negotiation team to call a strike, if needed.

Mars Area faculty has now been working more than 130 days without a new contract, since its previous contract expired this summer.

A news release from the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) about the vote was sent out Tuesday night following a district school board meeting. MAEA must provide 48 hours' notice to the district before stopping work, according to the release.

“We'd like to bring it back to the table,” said Joe Graff, a teacher and president of MAEA, Wednesday in a call to the Eagle. “We're just looking to negotiate.”

The strike authorization vote was passed unanimously after some teachers in recent weeks expressed their disappointment in the board's efforts to broker a new contract.

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