First Class Reflection

I have had the opportunity to be at the table in two negotiations from the teacher’s side of things. I have truly enjoyed both experiences because they were completely different. They were both set in a traditional based bargaining fashion. The first time it ended up in mediation with the federal mediator and the second time there was much discussion and preparation and the process went smoother with both sides being very satisfied with the new contract. From the administrative side I have not been involved nor will I be officially until I become a superintendent. However, the Havana district will start negotiations next spring and I may still be doing my internship to some degree so I am hopeful I will be able to be involved in a tertiary role.

One of the aspects about collective bargaining is the attention to detail that is crucially important to both sides. I am hopeful in 623 we will learn the items as a superintendent that are crucially important to remember and keep in mind while negotiating a contract. I also learned that it is good practice to have the school attorney involved in the process to ensure the district is covered from and minor a major negotiating catastrophe.

In discussing IBB I find it an interesting concept that is really dependent on the mindset of both the board/superintendent and teacher’s union leadership. Dr. Closen spoke of the fact that TRUST is a must and I believe him completely. If there is not a basis of trust between parties then the collective bargaining process will be long and stressful.

The a-ha I had is the fact that as a superintendent you wear so many hats and everything you do as a superintendent affects the people around you. If one desires to be successful as a superintendent, then one must work daily to develop trusting qualities to enable not just collective bargaining but all facets the job to be productive and positive.

First Class Reflection

Our first class was eye opening for me. Like a few others, I have had little to do with negotiations over the years. My first experience was as a rookie teacher… being told to wear certain colors in support of my fellow colleagues, being told why I shouldn’t cross picket lines, and all the negative stuff that comes with bargaining. As my career moved forward, I have observed more of the drama from the administrative side. So I don’t have any war stories to tell. As a result, I’m learning a great deal about the process.

What I have learned so far is that all parties (especially the district’s leadership) need to gather all the facts before even setting a date to come to the table. So many variables play into the bottom line (known variables and unknown). To begin well, both sides need to have a shared understanding of common language; example “Good faith.” In addition, all parties need to know that negotiating is a lengthy, intensive process that greatly affects all facets of the labor relations. It was interesting to review position and interest statements. This activity seemed to reference to the bigger picture of knowing the whole context of a story.

Overall, I would like to keep learning about how this process works. Despite the varied approaches, the process boils down to teamwork, shared goals, ground rules, and developing trust. My “ah-ha” moment was during the guest speaker’s scenarios. That activity demonstrated the reality of loopholes and bartering. Neat!