Confusing Signals on Teacher Representation

There has been so much loose talk about SNEA by those outside its membership. We thought it might be helpful to point out a few facts about MSTA's meandering positions on collective bargaining - that the vast majority of their own members probably don't know.

[Warning: Avoid standing while reading. Tracking MSTA's multi-directional positions on collective bargaining can lead to sudden disorientation.]

In the Know About St. Joe

MSTA is the Exclusive Representative for teachers in the St. Joseph school district. However, in Springfield, MSTA is campaigning vigorously for Multiple Representation as the preferred form of representation.

Question: In which district is MSTA the minority association?

MSTA Threatens Exclusive Representation in Hermann. Where Is the Outrage?

MSTA submitted signatures in October 2009 - collected by MSTA state staff - to hold an Exclusive Representation election for teachers in Hermann (Gasconade R-1) school district.

(But wait, the Springfield flier says that Exclusive Representation "excludes all teachers in other groups or any teacher that is non-affiliated from having a voice at the bargaining table." If that is true, why would MSTA promote Exclusive Representation in Hermann. (Something is amiss!)

MSTA's Pretzel Logic of Collective Bargaining in Springfield

MSTA currently has a petition on file with the Missouri State Board of Mediation to hold an Exclusive Representation election for Springfield Public School secretaries. Amazingly, most SPS secretaries are completely unaware of this.

Question: Why does MSTA believe Exclusive Representation is fine for Springfield's school secretaries while, at the same time, they adamantly oppose Exclusive Representation for Springfield's teachers?

(Please provide your best guess in the comments section.)

Where Will They Be Next Month?

In May 2007, the Missouri Supreme Court restored bargaining rights for teachers. Here are Before-and-After statements from the constantly retooling MSTA message factory in Columbia:

May 2007: "We believe that teaching is a public service and that students' education should not be disrupted or held hostage to salary negotiations . . . we oppose collective bargaining on many fronts." (from MSTA website, May 2007)

June 2007: "MSTA strongly supports the rights of teachers to bargain collectively." (from MSTA publication, "Straight Talk About Collective Bargaining and MSTA")

An Inconvenient Brief

During the Supreme Court case, MSTA filed a "friend of the court" brief jointly with the Missouri Council of School Administrators which stated their strong opposition to restoring bargaining rights for teachers in Missouri. The justices were unmoved. To view the MSTA/MCSA court brief, click this link and look for "Opponents" on the right side of the page:

http://www.mnea.org/news/Ind_SupremeCourt.htm

Don't Mess With Bill

When Senate Bill 486 came to hearing last spring, a broad coalition of employee and employer groups, including the Missouri Municipal League and the Missouri School Board Association, spoke in favor of its adoption. The bill would have "removed the brackets" that exclude teachers and police from being covered under the same employment law as nurses, bus drivers, custodians and all other employee groups.

Only one association spoke in opposition to Senate Bill 486 - the bill that would have provided teachers equal protection with all other employee groups under Missouri law.

Care to guess which association that was? (Hint: The answer is fraught with irony)

Finally . . . Exclusivity "The MSTA Way"

With the following submission to the Greene County Circuit Court (Springfield NEA v. School District of Springfield R-XII, August 2009), MSTA finally erases all doubt regarding its position on collective bargaining for teachers in Springfield. From the MSTA legal team, which intervened on the side of the district:

"The Board of the Springfield School District has the exclusive right to make all decisions regarding labor relations and terms of employment for members of the proposed bargaining unit."

And exactly how does one bargain from this position? One does not.

Final Note: Local NEA associations negotiate binding agreements with their districts in Rockwood, Parkway, Normandy, Fort Zumwalt, Independence, Wentzville, Park Hill, Hazelwood, Francis Howell and others. To our knowledge, MSTA has never negotiated a binding agreement for teachers anywhere - not as the majority organization, not as the exclusive representative, nor as part of a multiple representation group.

***Please Vote for Exclusive Representation on November 10. Accountable representation through a unified voice will make all the difference in Springfield. Teachers in the largest accredited school district in Missouri deserve nothing less than real representation that will lead to real improvements in working/learning conditions.***

First Teacher Rep Election, November 10

Board Approves Election Procedures - November 10 Election Date

Last week, the school board approved a teacher representation election plan that finally set a date for the first election . . . Tuesday, November 10 at the five high schools. You may recall that SNEA brought this issue to the fore one year ago by presenting the board with 1,143 teacher signatures calling for an exclusive rep election - much like those that have been held for nurses and maintenance/custodians in our district.

Now, with the adoption of disputed Policy HH and an election at hand, teachers, counselors and librarians (0.5 or higher FTE) will be presented with ballot language under "Exclusive Representation" that is very similar to what appeared on the original SNEA petition. SNEA is hopeful that a majority of teachers will unite and vote for their original request for "Exclusive Representation" on November 10.

Here are the six items that the administration proposed at the October 6 Study Session:

Items 1 and 2: Certify petitions from each (2) teacher group to appear on the ballot

Item 3: Approve the Bargaining Unit of all full-time and regular part-time (0.5 FTE or higher) teachers, counselors and librarians

Item 4: Conduct an election on three options of Exclusive Representation, Multiple Representation, and No Representation

Item 5: Election Ballot (see below)

Item 6: Set November 10 as election date at one central location from 3:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Disagreement, Compromise Over Election Sites -

Board Approves 5 High Schools

A week prior to the board meeting, SNEA participated in meetings with administration and the other teacher organization to negotiate election procedures and agreed to all items above except Item 6. SNEA contended that holding the election at one site after school hours would greatly inhibit voter turnout. We offered a plan based on the 2007 Independence teacher rep election that was held in each school library, similar to the checkoff system used when teachers take the MSIP survey - with observers provided by each teacher group. The Independence election was completed before noon in every building and had a voter turnout of 85%.

The administration rejected the SNEA election plan, citing security concerns, and presented their one-site plan to the board last week. The other teacher group offered no election proposal. Fortunately, school board members Bruce Renner and Andy Hosmer voiced strong objections to the "one-site" election plan, and a compromise was reached. Teachers will follow feeder school patterns (with some exceptions) and vote after school in the five high schools on November 10. The district will issue an official voting assignment list to each building prior to the election.

Sample Ballot Approved by School Board:

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ELECTION BALLOT

The Springfield Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) and the Springfield National Education Association (SNEA) have submitted petitions to the District's Board of Education seeking an election in a unit defined as:

Including: All full-time and regular part-time classroom teachers, counselors and librarians who are employed by the School District of Springfield, R-12 ("District") and who are .5 FTE or greater on the Teacher Salary Schedule and who are required by the District to be certified.

Excluding: All District Administrators, Managers, Supervisors and all other District employees.

The purpose of this election is to determine whether one organization, two organizations or no organizations will represent the employees in the unit for purposes of collective bargaining with the District. Depending on the result of this election, a second election may need to be conducted.

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PLEASE VOTE FOR ONLY ONE OPTION BY MARKING AN "X" OR A CHECK MARK IN THE BOX NEXT TO YOUR SELECTION.

[ ] Exclusive Representation -- I wish to have either the MSTA or the SNEA represent me for purposes of collective bargaining with the District.

[ ] Multiple Representation -- I wish to have both the MSTA and the SNEA represent me for purposes of collective bargaining with the District.

[ ] No Representation -- I do not wish to have any union represent me for purposes of collective bargaining with the District.

DO NOT SIGN THIS BALLOT. Fold and drop it in the ballot box. If you spoil your ballot, return it to the Election Official for a new one.

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So, here we go . . . Neither the disputed election policy nor the election procedures are ideal, but SNEA remains as committed as ever to work toward real representation for teachers in Springfield. If our membership holds together and votes for exclusive representation as outlined in the original petition that 1,143 Springfield teachers signed, there will soon be a healthier climate of respectful negotiations with the district regarding wages, benefits and teaching/learning conditions. Thanks for your support on this important issue.