What education reformers should do about collective bargaining

Restrictions on collective bargaining are spreading. But while reformers are right to question current labor practices in education, they're wrong to believe that bargaining prohibitions will solve the problems. A smarter approach would begin by putting down the sledgehammer wielded in Wisconsin and picking up a scalpel by pushing for laws aimed at two goals: (a) Clarifying or expanding the category of permissive bargaining topics, without eliminating mandatory bargaining on fundamental terms and conditions of employment; and (b) Ensuring that collective bargaining is transparent and that local government officials are accountable for their decisions in bargaining. Reformers should also focus on advocacy for policy change at the local level. © 2014.