Collective bargaining determines not only the quality and responsiveness of a school district’s teachers and support personnel, but the amount of money remaining to school board members to benefit the children under their care. Thus, while labor negotiations may sometimes feel remote from the process of helping children learn in the classroom, the results of this bargaining often affect a school board’s ability to implement educational policies.

This book is designed to assist school board members in understanding the basic principles and laws of collective bargaining, including some of the major substantive and procedural challenges facing Michigan school boards. In addition, the text is full of quotations from school board members and other education professionals concerning their experiences with collective bargaining and school employee unions. The combination of informational content and personal reflections provides new insights to school board members — and to policymakers, journalists and the general public, as well.

	(Click to enlarge)

Contents

• Students in the Bargain
  
  
• The Collective Bargaining Process
  
  
• The Dynamics of Public-Sector Bargaining
  
  
• The Impact of Public-Sector Bargaining in Education
  
  

• Subjective Bargaining Standard: Good Faith
  
  
• Subjects of Collective Bargaining: Mandatory, Permissive, Prohibited
  
  
• (1) Mandatory Subjects
  
  
• (2) Permissive Subjects
  
  
• (3) Prohibited Subjects
  
  
• Mediation
  
  
• Impasse
  
  
• Teachers Strikes and Lockouts
  
  

• Statutory Authority
  
  
• The Role of the Local School Board in Collective Bargaining
  
  
• Board Strategies in Collective Bargaining
  
  

• Historical Background
  
  
• Statutory Authority
  
  
• The Role of the Local Unions
  
  
• Union Collective Bargaining Strategies
  
  

• Statutory Restrictions on Individual Teachers
  
  
• Compulsory Union Membership Issues: Fee-Payers
  
  
• Paycheck Protection: Political Contributions
  
  
• Religious Liberty and Compulsory Unionism
  
  
• The Concept of Voluntary Unionism
  
  

• “Factory Model” Bargaining Hinders Quality Education
  
  
• “Pattern” Contracts Do Not Meet the Needs of Individual Districts
  
  
• Mandatory Collective Bargaining Politicizes Local School Boards
  
  
• Mandatory Collective Bargaining Hinders Effective Management
  
  
• Mandatory Collective Bargaining Inhibits Open Communication
  
  
• Mandatory Collective Bargaining Fosters Conflicting Agendas
  
  

• Health Care
  
  
• (1) Association Plans
  
  
• (2) Independent Insurance Providers
  
  
• (3) Cooperative Purchasing Arrangements
  
  
• (4) Pooling / Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement Plans
  
  
• (5) State-Sponsored Plans
  
  

• “Just Cause” Discipline and Discharge
  
  
• Teacher Evaluations
  
  
• Seniority-Based Salary Schedules
  
  
• Class Sizes
  
  

• Endnotes 1-99
  
  
• Endnotes 100-199
  
  
• Endnotes 200-281