The state education association's delegate assembly is scheduled to meet on Friday to discuss the walkout.

Mr. Hill voiced confidence that the union's 24-member executive board and 325-member delegate assembly would approve the increase.

She said she would urge its acceptance by the union's delegate assembly, its main governing body.

The union's delegate assembly is to vote on the settlement tomorrow, and mail ballots are to be sent out late this week.

The teachers' delegate assembly, which has the authority to recommend a strike, is to meet tomorrow.

The women are expected to challenge the decision when the international's delegate assembly meets in Dallas in August.

And the delegate assembly passes resolutions on everything from imprisoned scholars to fetal-tissue research.

The recommendation was made at the association's annual delegate assembly in St. Louis, which ended Sunday.

The code still needs to be approved at an April meeting of the council's 300-member delegate assembly.

And on Wednesday night the union's delegate assembly voted to set a deadline of Dec. 1 for a contract deal.