Collective Bargaining Study Group Passes 6-1
A resolution by the Newport News School Board to create a Collective Bargaining Study Group passed 6-1, with Rebecca Aman the lone vote against. A similar Collective Bargaining Task Force by City Council led to a unanimous vote for collective bargaining rights for city workers this past July.
During public comments, Dr. Graves advocated for the Study Group to last only 6 months (the same length of time that the city’s CB Task Force lasted) and for it to culminate in a collective bargaining resolution and public vote (like City Council’s public vote this past July). Dr. Graves also implored the Board to look into numerous complaints from NNPS bus drivers about unfair working conditions and mistreatment.
During public comments, NNEA members spoke about:
* bus drivers’ concerns — reports of retaliation and cronyism from department leadership; new drivers receiving more routes / hours than veteran drivers; drivers’ hours being limited to 32.5 hours per week despite the driver shortage; lack of support for extreme student behaviors; drivers being discouraged from taking needed sick leave
* When will the 4% raise and state bonus be paid out? (NOTE: later in the meeting, Doug Brown said that the School Board is waiting for City Council to appropriate funds for the 4% raise + state bonus)
* opposition to limiting bus transportation to magnet schools (NOTE: for more information and opportunities to give feedback on the NNPS Capacity and Utilization Study that could impact bus transportation to magnet schools, visit https://nnschools.org/schoolboundaries/)
Learn more about collective bargaining, which would give teachers & school staff a seat at the table to negotiate for fair contracts: https://www.veanea.org/o2b/.
Benefits of joining the NNEA / VEA: https://www.veanea.org/join/
To join the NNEA / VEA: https://forms.veanea.net/view.php?id=586995
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