Teacher union, district hopeful Salem-Keizer can reach contract without a strike

Teachers and Salem-Keizer School District leaders say they’re optimistic they can resolve a months-long labor dispute without a strike after making progress with a state mediator.

The third state mediation session between the two sides, which lasted 12 hours on Tuesday, produced no new tentative agreements, but the teacher union lowered its ask for pay raises to 16% over two years, down from a September ask of 26%.

The district has not presented any new…