TINLEY PARK, Ill. (WLS) — Teachers at south suburban school district have filed “intent to strike” paperwork with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, the union said in a statement on Friday.

This comes after Community Consolidated School District 146 teachers voted to authorize a strike earlier this week. The district serves Orland Park, Tinley Park, and Oak Forest.

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A strike is not imminent, but members support calling a strike if there is no other path to an agreement at the bargaining table, the union said.

The union says their current contract “penalizes teachers who work past retirement age, putting drastic limits on whether the district can retain experienced teachers. In addition, teacher compensation is towards the bottom when compared to neighboring districts.”

“This Board of Education has pushed us far enough,” said District 146 Educators Council President Eileen Von Borstel. “The district has the funds to ensure we can recruit and retain high quality educators, but the Board of Education is refusing to use that money to invest in our students and the people who teach them. We have no choice but to move towards a strike if they refuse to bargain a fair contract.”

The district sent a message to students and their guardians, saying, “At Monday’s Board meeting, the Board of Education heard from many teachers and some community members. Based on the union leadership’s request to return to the bargaining table, the Board of Education reached out to the teachers union through the negotiations mediator first thing Tuesday morning with new alternate offers. As of today, we have not received a response. Please be assured that the Board acknowledges the sentiments expressed at Monday’s meeting and is still committed to finding a solution that benefits both the teachers and the taxpayers. We will be sure to keep you updated as the negotiations progress.”

The two sides have been at the table since February.

The earliest teachers can strike is Sept. 22.