Programs Prepare Board Members for Bargaining

This fall, about 200 school boards will enter into negotiations with their teachers’ associations. In addition, many districts will also be bargaining with support staff and administrators/supervisors associations.

These negotiations will take place in an environment of diminished state aid for education, lowered property tax cap levels, and legislative changes that affect school employees. There is also the prospect of additional legislative changes in Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed “toolkit” that could impact collective bargaining in New Jersey.

To help boards prepare for their negotiations responsibilities, NJSBA is offering two bargaining programs next month:

• Preparing for Bargaining on Sept. 11 will help boards understand the role of the bargaining team, learn how to cost out the contract, learn how to develop board proposals, and understand the legal requirements that govern the negotiations process.
• Intermediate Bargaining on Sept. 25 will address union proposals, counter-proposals and tradeoffs, at-the-table techniques and impasse procedures.  The sessions will also feature an update on the latest legislative developments concerning the toolkit.

NJSBA’s labor relations staff members are also available to answer questions and provide assistance to board members, administrators and school board attorneys on topics such as negotiations, grievances, mediation, fact-finding, job actions and salary guides. For more information, go to the Labor Relations webpage or call (888) 886-5722, extension 5219.

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