To help ensure that board members are prepared to negotiate with experienced and well-trained union teams, the NJSBA is offering two opportunities for school district teams to attend Ready, Set, Bargain. The program will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, or Friday, Jan. 24, 2020 at NJSBA headquarters, 413 W. State Street, Trenton. Both sessions offer the same content.

This dynamic, interactive, fast-paced program is designed to guide bargaining teams through the process, from the initial preparation and legal framework to at-the-table techniques and settlement.

The program provides information and training on the parties’ obligations and rights; costing out the current agreement including salary guides and benefits; developing employer proposals and analyzing union demands; ways to use comparative data; and impasse procedures. Ready, Set, Bargain combines the valuable information from Preparing for Bargaining, and Bargaining at the Table into a convenient one-day format.

Professional Development Credit The program offers 4 Board Member Academy credits. Application for 6 Continuing Legal Education Credits for New Jersey lawyers is pending before the New Jersey Supreme Court and 3.5 Qualified Purchasing Agent (QPA) credits are pending for business administrators.

Registration Information Registration for the programs is available online by clicking on the program dates above, but only by the school business administrator. Business administrators wishing to register officials from their districts should have a scanned purchase order ready to attach to the registration.

Cost The registration fee for members is $149 and the fee for non-members is $298. The fee includes a continental breakfast, lunch and program materials.

To find out more about these programs, email NJSBA Labor Relations.