A Collective Bargaining Primer
For Michigan School Board Members
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.
Contents
- Preface
- I. Introduction to Collective Bargaining in the Public Sector
- II. Bargaining Collectively Under Michigan Law
- III. Michigan School Boards and the Bargaining Process
- IV. Education Unions and the Bargaining Process
- V. Individual Teachers and the Bargaining Process
- VI. Procedural Challenges in Public-Sector Collective Bargaining
- “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
- VII. Employee Salaries and Benefits
- VIII. Substantive Challenges
- IX. Recommendations for Better Collective Bargaining Agreements
- X. Conclusion
- About the Authors
- Appendix: Text of flier distributed in Muskegon County, April 2006
- Endnotes
