BoR Spotlight: Working Conditions and the Right to Fight for Them

Our Texas Needs Teachersreport found that working conditions were even more important than compensation in retaining educators by an almost 2-to-1 ratio. Even if all our school finance dreams came true and we could pay all educators and support staff the salaries and wages they so richly deserve, compensation is not the entire picture, and the state must do more to address crushing workloads that cause burnout and exacerbate teacher attrition and employee turnover.

Though the bill filings may have slowed over the holiday season, they certainly did not stop. With just days until the 89^th Legislature gavels in, let's take a peek at some additional bills that support our Texas AFT's Educator's Bill of Rights, specifically working conditions and collective bargaining.

Collective Bargaining

The real power in achieving the working conditions needed for thriving schools is the power of collective bargaining. The working conditions of our educators and staff are the learning conditions of our students. When educators have a voice in their workplace, they can negotiate for and win better working and learning environments

HB 1077 by Rep.-elect Lauren Ashley Simmons would repeal the collective bargaining prohibition for all public employees and allow for the bargaining of contracts regarding wages, hours, and working conditions. This crucial right is currently only available by state law to firefighters and police.

While Texas AFT will continue to fight at the Legislature for needed measures to rein in class sizes and unreasonable paperwork, collective bargaining rights will ensure that teachers and support staff can fight for their needs at the local level to ensure the best learning environments possible for employees and students.

Working Conditions Bills

Previous editions of the Hotline have highlighted bills relating to transparency requirements for schools regarding essential staff coverage and custodian workload s for district facilities.

These are the first of many vital bills we are working to see filed in this session. And we've begun tracking some of the best on our Educator's Bill of Rights webpage.