By Haley Thomas, contributor
An updated proposal to allow collective bargaining among Harrisonburg teachers and staff addresses how school district employees would select their representatives to negotiate on their behalf, according to the new draft Superintendent Michael Richards unveiled Tuesday.
This version seeks to respond to two key concerns that the Virginia Education Association had expressed about an earlier draft, specifically: the need to have an independent third party oversee the election of representatives to negotiate and the requirement for a majority of all employees, rather than just those voting, to determine that representation.
Richards has been working with a task force to craft the collective bargaining resolution, which must be approved by the Harrisonburg City Public Schools’ board. Board chair Andy Kohen said at Tuesday’s meeting that the board will hold a special closed session meeting Sept. 10 during which members will consult with legal counsel on the resolution.
“We understand we have a responsibility to come to that meeting having carefully read [the resolution] with questions and concerns for our attorney to answer,” said board member Deb Fitzgerald, who has voiced her support for collective bargaining since its early discussions.
Richards told the board that his desire for careful consideration of staff representation was one of the “hang-ups” that delayed the collective bargaining resolution, but that this extra time was necessary in order to bring forward a resolution that the board could support. In an effort to ensure that the Harrisonburg Education Association, a local group made up of educators who advocate on teachers’ behalf, accurately represents HCPS employees in its bargaining efforts, Richards said the following statement was added to the resolution:
“[C]ollective bargaining is meant to allow all Bargaining Unit Employees [all HCPS employees] … a voice in discussing/addressing the terms and conditions of their employment and that any Exclusive Representative [namely, the HEA] will invite and consider input from bargaining unit employees, member and non-member alike.”
Richards said this means that all HCPS staff will have a say, regardless of whether or not they are a member of the Harrisonburg Education Association.
Similarly, the resolution now states that an agreement is enforceable and effective if it is, first, approved by the Harrisonburg Education Association after a majority of votes cast by city schools employees, and, second, if it’s approved by the school board.
Any meeting between the Harrisonburg Education Association and school district’s administration that is held to negotiate collective bargaining agreements must be open to all school employees. The Harrisonburg Education Association and school district administration must also provide minutes from such meetings to be shared across the district.
Members of the Harrisonburg Education Association once again turned up at the school board meeting to voice their support during the board’s public comment period.
“I love my job, but I also need a healthy work-life balance,” Waterman Elementary teacher Glenda Leonard said. “If I am not healthy, then every area of my life suffers, including my work as a teacher, which in turn means the classroom environment and students suffer. Passing this draft resolution as written would begin to change unhealthy current expectations of teachers and staff.
Ali Haverty, also a teacher at Waterman Elementary, said she was grateful for the support that she has felt from Richards.
“By submitting this draft resolution, Dr. Richards is showing that he has listened to us, to those who hold less power,” Haverty said. “Dr. Richards, as superintendent, does not have the power to meet our needs, but he is closer in the power structure to those who finally can.”
Haverty said she and other employees, HEA members and non-members, just want a seat at the table when it comes to their employment conditions, which is why she urged the board to approve the new version.”
“I understand that there will be a time when we are advocating for unmet needs that you as a school board do not have the power to change,” Haverty told the board. “And when that day comes, we want to stand with you, as we stand with our superintendent tonight, as you advocate to those you are closer to in the power structure, school board members, though, do have the power to meet a need of staff.”
This story has been updated to include the meeting next week will be held in closed session.
Thanks for reading The Citizen, which won the Virginia Press Association’s 2022 News Sweepstakes award as the top online news site in Virginia. We’re independent. We’re local. We pay our contributors, and the money you give goes directly to the reporting. No overhead. No printing costs. Just facts, stories and context. We value your support.
