Menino Seeks State Inquiry Into Stalled Teacher Talks

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino is questioning whether the city's teachers union is negotiating in good faith with school administrators.

Menino, who says two years is too long for contract negotiations to drag on, wants the state Department of Labor Relations to investigate the talks.

"I'm asking them to open up the sessions, make sure there's transparency there, that the public can see actually what's on the table, from the teachers' side and also from the City of Boston side," he said.

A state labor mediator is already participating in the stalled contract talks.

The mayor says the union president recently told him only three issues remain to be settled. Then, Menino said, "when we get back to the table, he comes up with 33 issues. Is that sincerity in negotiations? It sure isn't to me."

Union leaders deny trying to hold up negotiations. They're taking no position yet on the request for state intervention.

Two more bargaining sessions are currently scheduled for next week.