Pennsylvania State Representative unveils legislation to ban teacher strikes

Pennsylvania State Representative Todd Rock has unveiled legislation that would ban teacher strikes, mandate a contract negotiation schedule and require public disclosure of negotiating positions throughout the process. This bill is similar to one that State Senator Robert Mellow has been pushing for years that would force labor disputes into binding arbitration if school boards and unions reach an impasse. The Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), the state’s largest teacher’s union, opposes both bills. PSEA spokesman Wythe Keever believes the senate bill is preferable. Rep. Rock predicts that a no-strike bill in one form or another is more likely to pass this legislative term than in the past because many of the 55 new members of the state legislature while campaigning promised reform and tax relief, which his bill offers by reforming labor contract negotiating and helping school districts control spending. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) opposes binding arbitration, arguing it is about doing what is right for schools, students and taxpayers. Labor contracts, which have the single greatest budgetary impact, should be negotiated by elected school board members, not third parties, according to PSBA spokesman Scott K. Shewell. As a result, PSBA has expressed its preference for Rep. Rock’s bill over Sen. Mellow’s. Rep. Rock’s bill would make both strikes and lockouts illegal, and would dock two days pay for each day a teacher takes part in an illegal strike. Currently, teachers don’t lose pay when they strike because school days must be made up later. Another key part of Rep. Rock’s legislation would make the negotiating process more transparent. Contract proposals made by both sides would be made public and negotiators would be forced to answer residents’ questions about negotiations during public meetings every six weeks. Thirty-seven other states have laws prohibiting teacher strikes.

Pittsburg Post-Gazette
By Tracie Mauriello
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