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.***