How Does the Negotiations Process Work?

After sending an recent update to teachers, we received some questions about how we communicate and how some items get negotiated. In fact, one of the most frequent questions NTA gets from teachers and parents are about how our calendar becomes finalized. With other districts that surround Natomas USD, such as Sac City, with a school calendar that begins after Labor Day, many ask why and how we have arrived at the calendar we have.

In Natomas, we have schools coming off of a year-round schedule, so our current calendar reflects a compromise between the YR and traditional schedules. Indeed, across this state, many districts believe a shortened summer positively benefits students. They have also felt that the traditional calendar is a leftover from an outdated agrarian lifestyle. Fad? Could be. Will the pendulum eventually swing the other way? Probably. Child care, vacations, and student employment all are affected by the calendar in some way. We hear from teachers on both sides of this...some who want more breaks in the year, and others who want less to keep the summer break... so how do we balance all of the points of view of our 580 members?

In the meantime, NTA uses a survey to determine membership priority. An idea that might be important to a small number of members might not reach the top of the priority list, or might be negotiated in another year, as we have to operate in the manner that best supports the majority. For example, we have more elementary teachers in this district than secondary. Often, they are the majority. However, we work hard each time to cover as much of the members' priorities that we can - both secondary and others. Also, the district must be willing to listen.

Depending on how many teachers complete a survey, it's possible that a vocal minority can get their point across. If members can rally their site’s members to fill out the survey, and make something such as the holiday breaks a big priority then it can become a priority. Also, if the union and the district do not come to an agreement on the calendar, the district has the right to simply declare what the calendar will look like in terms of start dates and break dates.

Finally, a word on communication - because there have been questions about how members can communicate effectively. Formally, NTA sends out a paper newsletter every month to all members, as well as holding monthly meetings with an elected representative or two from every school to make decisions and discuss current issues affecting our teachers and schools.
CTA and NEA help us by sending us information we need to know about, and guide us in legal and fiscal matters, as well as other helpful practices for associations. CTA Legal helps us know about our rights - for example, we are informed that it is not advised for district email to be used for NTA business, except for general meeting and specific notifications from elected site reps, as it is not secure. Whenever possible, we ask members for their home email addresses, and officers are available by phone as well. Formally and informally, elected officers and site representatives gather information from teachers across the district to inform NTA leadership of what is going on, and helps ensure the contract is being followed. Often, we spend our time working with the district to improve working conditions in the classroom, and working with the community to partner with and appreciate our teachers and their continued and daily hard work.
NTA and the district have a mutually agreed upon contract. We are currently negotiating the 2008-2009 contract with the district. As everyone else in CA is doing, we are waiting for a satisfactory state budget to be reached soon!