Collective Bargaining in Public Schools: Turning the Focus to Students

May 2000

Karen Helland, J.D.
Research Analyst
Evergreen Freedom Foundation

Corrie White
Legal Research Analyst
Evergreen Freedom Foundation

The majority of education funds in the average school district in Washington state is spent to meet the demands of collectively bargained contracts. Large districts negotiate a dozen or more contracts with employee groups. What is in these contracts and do they facilitate or frustrate the ability to offer each student in our public school system the best possible educational opportunity? Do these contracts enhance or erode the professional satisfaction of teachers?

This study attempts to answer those questions.

Contents

• Front Cover Section
  • About the Authors
  • Table of Contents
  • Executive Summary
• Introduction to Collective Bargaining
  • Purpose and Methodology of This Study
  • The Impact of Collective Bargaining
  • The History of Collective Bargaining in Washington's Public Schools
  • Fundamentals of Collective Bargaining
• Recommendations, Section 1
  • Recommendations for Contract Language
  • Management Rights
  • Exclusive Representation
  • Agency Shop
  • Employee Rights
  • Just Cause
  • Teachers Evaluation
• Recommendations, Section 2
  • Seniority Pay
  • Insurance Benefits
  • No-Strike Clause
  • Class Size
  • Educational Policy
  • Other Considerations
  • Supplemental Contracts
  • Union Privileges
  • Leave
  • Looking Forward
• Footnotes
• Appendix A: Specific Contract Provisions
• Appendix B: 1997-98 Selected Financial Data

Evergreen Freedom Foundation P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507 Phone: (360) 956-3482, Fax: (360) 352-1874 Email: effwa@effwa.org

Quotables:

"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves, is sinful and tyrannical." - Thomas Jefferson

"If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind." - John Stuart Mill