DPS and teachers union
Why does the Denver Public Schools and the Union always wait until school starts to negotiate union contracts. Is it for leverage?
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Of course it is for leverage. A school teacher strike wouldn't be very effective in July.
Posted by idk on September 29, 2007 02:25 PMidk,
It also has to do with the nature of the contracts themselves. Since not all teachers enjoy tenure, the contracts are written from school year to school year dates for those on renewable status. Thus, the salaries and benefits up for negotiation are for those who will be teaching, rather than for those who have moved on, or out of the system.
Posted by Old Grouch on September 29, 2007 03:57 PMYes, school contracts with teachers are a yearly event. Most contracts are written on a 12 month basis so that, even though the teachers are in the classroom for 9 months, the salary/benefits are paid over 12. But I still believe that negotiating a contract when school isn't in session wouldn't be very effective because there would be no leverage. Perhaps if the school boards would present their first offer in June and could try to work things out over the summer, it would work. But when there is a point that the two sided disagree on, negotiating when one side really doesn't have much leverage (or media coverage, or parental involvement, or student involvement) not much would be accomplished. I'm not really sure how I feel about all of it. My kids have had some fantastic teachers and some lousy teachers. I wish there was a better system to address that!
Posted by idk on September 29, 2007 04:57 PMand we know the most important thing to the union and the teachers is their contract. if it wasnt they would not use the kids as a pawn in getting their pay raises
Posted by on September 30, 2007 12:25 PM