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WEBVTT THERE IS A CHANCE OF SENATE APPROVAL. TEACHERS IN RIO RANCHO ARE HOPING THEY'LL SEE A PAY RAISE BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS. THAT RAISE WAS SUPPOSED TO START IN JULY, BUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE TEACHER'S UNION CAN'T AGREE ON A CONTRACT. KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER KIRSTEN SWANSON EXPLAINS WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY DON'T REACH A DEAL SOON. BACK IN JULY, RIO RANCHO TEACHERS SHOULD HAVE SEEN A 3 PERCENT BUMP IN THEIR PAY. BUT IT'S NOVEMBER AND THEY HAVEN'T SEEN A CENT. I could really use that money STEVE EISENBERG IS A TEACHER AND PRESIDENT OF THE RIO RANCHO SCHOOL EMPLOYEES UNION. HE SAYS THE MONEY IS STUCK IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, BETWEEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE UNION. TALKS THAT HAVE GONE ON FOR A YEAR AND A HALF NOW. we just want a contract signed IN A STATEMENT SENT TO ACTION 7 NEWS... THE RIO RANCHO SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS IT "has always been willing to negotiate with the union" BUT THAT " the union has been unwilling to sit down at the table" officials with the school district say it's the union's fault. Union members say it's the school district's fault. It doesn't matter anymore because everyone has been required to sit down at the table and they've got a deadline. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S LABOR RELATIONS BOARD IS FORCING EVERYONE TO REACH A COMPROMISE BY THE END OF NOVEMBER OR NEGOTIATIONS GO INTO ARBITRATION. AND RIO RANCHO TAXPAYERS WOULD PAY FOR THE OUTSIDER WHO LEADS THE NEGOTIATIONS. IN RIO RANCHO KIRSTEN SWANSON KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS. IT'S STILL NOT CLEAR IF TEACHERS WILL GET BACKPAY FROM JULY ... WHEN THE RAISE WAS SUPPOSED TO GO INTO EFFECT. THE UNION SAYS