Essentially, the process of collective negotiations creates a way for local educators and their school division to come together, reach mutually-acceptable solutions to problems, and reach a written agreement. It simply means that representatives of both educators and administrators sit down and negotiate fairly together.

In our public schools, negotiations also put in place an organized and transparent system designed to improve education and to help make sure that professional educators are paid a professional salary. When educators and school divisions work out agreements about salary, benefits, and working conditions—which are also student learning conditions—it’s a win for everyone.

The process begins with both sides examining the current agreement and getting the feedback of colleagues to identify areas of concern or that need improvement. During actual negotiations, procedures are agreed on about how to propose changes and what subjects are legally permissible to discuss. Next step is an agreement when compromise is reached and the union holds a ratification vote. Management usually must get approval from the school board.

When the negotiating process is working best, it’s often because the union and school division are keeping in regular touch about the contract, perhaps in a monthly labor-management committee meeting.

Research indicates that learning conditions improve for students when educators have the right to negotiate their contracts. By joining together, we can help ensure that each student has access to social and emotional support, meals and after care programs, and high-quality instruction.

Educators have used contract negotiations to secure smaller class sizes, increase one-on-one attention for students from professionals like nurses and counselors, and make improvements on safety issues. Before Virginia’s educators were denied the right to negotiate contracts, they used the process to secure additional reading, art, and music teachers, fairer discipline policies, and more.

Giving the folks who know the names of the students a seat at the table will go a long way toward giving every kid in Virginia the education they deserve.

Education policy should come from the classroom up. As trusted professionals, educators are best equipped to make classroom and school decisions that will ensure students can thrive. Contract negotiations bring educator voices to the table and put their expertise front and center.

Together with parents and members of the community, we can identify what changes we need to make for our students and negotiate to get the job done!

Beginning on May 1^st educators may request the right to negotiate their contracts.

A school division must first pass a resolution agreeing to collectively negotiate with school employees. If the school division does not proactively take this step, school employees can come together to form a negotiations unit. As a unit they can  petition to begin contract negotiations.

After that, the school board has 120 days to consider the request to negotiate.

Our students are our why!

A contract expresses a shared set of values that can be built upon to create the best learning environment for our students and the best working environment for our educators. Prior to the passage of the law, Virginia’s students and educators lacked a meaningful process to ensure that problems were identified, and commitments kept. Negotiated contracts will give us that process.

The right to negotiate contracts is not a given. Each school division must pass a resolution granting educators the right. We—parents, educators and members of the community—must  come together to ensure that educators across the Commonwealth can negotiate for their students.

WE know that we need to negotiate collectively for the schools our students deserve.

WE know educators are the experts when it comes to our students and we need their voice at the table.

WE know that contract negotiations will keep great educators in Virginia’s schools.

But that doesn’t mean our neighbors or the parent you carpool with know, too.

This is a ground-up effort, and we need your help to get the word out!

Talk with your friends, relatives, even the woman waiting in line behind you at the grocery store. Get chatty on your social media platforms too! Let your child’s teacher know you support their effort—ask how you can help out. Do you love speaking before an audience? Offer to speak before the school board. Does public speaking petrify you? Write a letter to the editor.