Handed a strike-authorization vote by a handy margin yesterday, Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers President John Tarka said he was eager to return to the bargaining table and avert a walkout.

PFT members voted 2,666 to 234 to strike, should the union leadership consider a work stoppage necessary. Mr. Tarka hopes it won't come to that, saying the union hasn't struck the district in 32 years "and our intention is to continue that."

Still, Theresa Colaizzi, chairman of the school board Negotiations Committee, said she was disappointed in the strike vote.

In a statement, Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt said the union's "request for a strike-authorization vote is unfortunate."

"The district has been trying very hard to resolve the contract dispute without any disruption or distraction for students, families and our staff," Mr. Roosevelt said. "This is a very critical year for the academic progress of the district. We remain committed to a settlement that honors the good work of our teachers without endangering the district's financial health or obligating us to raise taxes, which we adamantly oppose doing."

The union offered no timetable for calling a strike, but yesterday's tally means the leadership can call a walkout whenever it might believe one necessary. The two sides last met Oct. 11, and Mr. Tarka said a state mediator has been trying to arrange a bargaining session this week.

Salary, benefits, post-retirement health care and length of school day are among the stumbling blocks. The union represents about 3,500 employees in three bargaining units -- about 2,800 teachers and other professionals, about 600 classroom aides and about 60 technical-clerical workers.

The units' last contracts expired June 30. Top-scale pay is $73,500 for a teacher with a master's degree and 10 years' experience.

The district is having financial problems, and Mr. Roosevelt said a strike would damage his efforts to improve academics. Union members said they want to be fairly compensated for their efforts to implement Mr. Roosevelt's changes the past two years.

Strike-authorization ballots were mailed Oct. 20. About 2,900 members, or 83 percent of the membership, returned ballots. Of those who returned ballots, about 92 percent voted to authorize a strike.

Mr. Tarka said he was pleased with the number of ballots returned and with the number of members voting to authorize a strike, calling the responses strong support for the union's negotiating efforts. The same ballot was mailed to all members, so the votes weren't counted by bargaining unit.

Members had until 4 p.m. yesterday to return ballots to Iron & Glass Bank on the South Side. Ballots then were counted at union offices on the South Side, under the supervision of Electec Inc., an election firm.