Collective Bargaining

Collective bargaining is the term used to describe the process where unions and employers determine the conditions of employment through direct negotiation, normally resulting in a written contract setting the wages, hours, and other conditions to be observed for a stipulated period (e.g., two years). Local unions designate members to serve as bargaining representatives. These representatives negotiate with the employer to establish salary and raises, healthcare coverage and provisions, and benefits such as vacation time, etc. to meet the needs of the members. Contracts with the ECASD have been negotiated every two or three years. When bargaining for your contract is about to begin, our Local and its bargaining representatives will survey members and/or hold meetings to identify priorities and workplace concerns. The responses received in both forums help to shape the demands made by the Local when bargaining the new contract.

Our Local’s representatives, in conjunction with Jim Mangan, our staff representative from AFT-Wisconsin, bargains with the ECASD to determine the terms of our contract. When a tentative agreement is reached, the terms of the agreement are circulated to members and a vote to either ratify or reject the tentative agreement is held. The ECASD Personnel Executive Director submits the TA to the Board of Education for approval at the same time. If a tentative agreement (TA) is ratified by our Local and the School Board after the previous contract has expired, it becomes effective immediately and certain aspects, such as pay increases, etc. are retroactive back to July 1. If a TA is rejected by our Local or the School Board, negotiations resume.