CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS between teachers’ unions and school districts often resemble the Civil War naval battle between the ironclads Merrimac and Monitor: Each side exchanges broadsides, inflicts casualties, and teeters away claiming victory. There’s got to be a better way to improve schools while ensuring fairness for teachers.
It turns out there is a better method — something labor experts call interest-based bargaining. Basically, it’s the opposite of traditional collective bargaining. Instead of issuing tough demands and counter demands, the sides begin with a clear statement of their interests and objectives. Rather than pummel each other with data, the parties collect information jointly and analyze where each dollar is being spent contractually. And instead of breeding mutual contempt, the bargaining sessions are designed to create trust.
Comments
If I were on the BTU team I'd offer to stream live the negotiating sessions.
Public schools in the US are systematically being assaulted by the corporate education reform movement. The casualties are students, parents, and teachers. When collectively bargaining, most US school districts take on the same end goal - and it's not about the kids. The end goal is for whatever the "du jour" movement is, as pronounced by the likes of Gates, Walton, Broad, and Pearson. The problem is teachers unions are not bargaining with school committees anymore, they are trying to stop the collateral damage caused by the corporate education movement, which has bought and paid for school committees. The seat at the table unions share with the power elite is grossly uneven. A public forum that shines light on what's really happening would benefit the real stakeholders in public education, not the stock holders and hedge fund managers who are trying to take over. We should protect democracy, not move toward an aristocracy.
I tried to "Like" columwhyte's comment, because he/she provides some important context that was missing from Mr. Harmon's piece, but the system wouldn't let me! Anyway, it's true that "The seat at the table unions share with the power elite is grossly uneven."
As Malcolm X put it, "Sitting at the table doesn't make you a diner, unless you eat some of what's on that plate."
In the BPS Bully Prevention professional development teachers attended, we learned that when girls demonstrate social aggression, they use virile gossip and sabotage the other person’s reputation. Informational warfare is their first point of attack. Bullying is what Dr. Johnson and her team did this last contract negotiation. Bashing the teachers union and faulting teachers is a political technique called "demonizing the opposition." Dr. Johnson demonized teachers in the press, didn’t show up at negotiation meetings and didn't allow the people she abdicated her responsibility to make decisions. She forgot that BPS Teachers were members of her team. We are the people in direct service of Boston’s children. The work of BPS teachers made the Boston Public Schools the best urban school district in the Nation! Did she think being a bystander would absolve her from her duty and responsibility not to exploit or manipulate us? Even after the contract went to arbitration, she blew off our people scheduled and waiting to meet with her at Court Street while she went on a photo op to Target's! I thought the BTU Negotiation Team showed great restraint. After waiting 24 months, had I been on the BTU negotiating team, we would have continued our discussions at the store! Dr. Johnson's behavior was rude and disrespectful to teachers and her example continues to permeate with administrative staff down to the school level to this day. Dr. Johnson never entertained the idea that this was a mutual contract between teachers and the school department. The BPS/BTU contract is a document that clarifies how we all get along. The negotiations for this BPS/BTU Contract were ugly. It made me long for the days of Tom Payzant, Louis Harris Jones, and Laval Wilson. In the past, I can remember the BPS and the BTU used a form of interest-based bargaining. Everyone put their issues on the table and came to consensus, which all parties agreed and signed off on. Some years we would have a 1-day strike and I remember my principal set-up a table outside for us with coffee and donuts when we picked. He waved to us from his window and we would chant and raise our signs. It wasn’t adversarial and everyone was back at school smiling the next day. Back then Court Street never forgot that teachers were integral members of the team and treated us fairly and with respect. Everyone won a little and it was always in the best interest of Boston’s children.