The union that represents Columbus City Schools teachers has authorized its negotiators to give a 10-day strike notice if ongoing talks can't reach a new agreement for a new contract over the summer.

"To be clear, this does not mean that (the Columbus Education Association) is going on strike," CEA President John Coneglio said in a video posted by the union online after the Tuesday meeting at the Ohio State Fairgrounds.

"There's no indication at this point that a strike will be needed to reach an agreement. However, tonight's vote should send a strong message that Columbus educators are prepared to do whatever it takes to win the schools that Columbus students deserve."

Coneglio did not return phone calls on Tuesday and Wednesday inquiring about the meeting. In the video, he said CEA "voted unanimously" on Tuesday to support the calling of a special meeting of the union's governing body over the summer for the purpose of issuing a 10-day notice of intent to strike "if necessary."

Teachers reportedly are being told by the union to remove any personal belongings from classrooms before leaving for summer break at the end of this week, as they wouldn't have access to buildings during a strike.

Columbus Board of Education President Gary Baker said on Wednesday that he is prohibited from commenting on the negotiations, and he declined to respond to the union's latest move, which essentially clears one hurdle the union must clear to eventually strike.

"I think I can say both sides continue to bargain in good faith and we appreciate that," Baker said.

Coneglio said in the video that a federal mediator has been assigned to assist in the talks, but both parties agreed that person isn't yet needed. He repeated the union's list of demands, including better pay, expanded student-discipline programs, and "saving taxpayers money by ending (property-tax) handouts for wealthy corporations who don't need them."

Earlier this month, hundreds of teachers marched up to the lobby of CoverMyMeds' Downtown offices chanting, "Pharma got handouts, kids got sold out." The demonstrators tried to present the firm a huge poster resembling a tax bill that read: "Bill: Robber, CoverMyMeds" for $44 million.

The CEA claims that a 15-year, 100% property-tax abatement for CoverMyMeds' new $225 million office complex is shifting the burden to other, less affluent taxpayers.

The city of Columbus disputes that, saying the development might not have been built at all without the abatement. CoverMyMeds cancelled a block party to celebrate the new building in Franklinton, saying they feared the union would protest at the event.

Coneglio, in an unprecedented defeat of former sitting CEA president Tracey Johnson, was elected to the post in 2018 following an unpopular contract that awarded pay raises of 1.5 percent and 1 percent over two years, in addition to "step increases" for longevity. That contract expires this summer.

At the time, Coneglio said then that he would review the district's budget and the teachers' contract "and make the district understand that we are valuable, that we need to be treated with respect."

bbush@dispatch.com

@ReporterBush