Fixed-term contracts are a relatively recent, yet growing category of employment for teachers in the public school system in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. In this article, we draw on quantitative and qualitative data from a large state-wide survey (N = 18,234) of members of the public-school teacher union, the NSW Teachers' Federation, in…

Society in Northern Ireland can be characterised as being underpinned by an enduring cultural, religious and political divide between two dominant communities: Catholics and Protestants. The educational system largely reflects and contributes to the reproduction of this separation. Teachers are generally deployed in schools that are consistent…

This paper will consider how short-term contracts function as a technology for governing a new generation of teachers in Australia. It will proceed from Foucault's understanding that neoliberal modes of power seek to 'guide' or shape the conduct of the governed. In particular, the paper will consider how the short-term contracts implicate…

Teacher unions worldwide are being criticized for disregarding their responsibility as professionals towards education and students. Critics have claimed that teacher unions tend to protect incompetent teachers, place their own needs and interests above their students, and continuously demand for financial increases even when there is more urgency…

This study aims to have a comparative look at the two countries, Belgium - Flemish Community and Turkey with regard to teacher training systems and qualitatively investigate the differences between these countries. The comparison themes for which these comparative analyses were based on were derived following a determination of the most prominent…

Between 2011 and 2013 lawmakers in every state proposed, and often enacted, laws intended to impact codified state provisions related to teachers and teachers' unions (author calculation). These new laws either worked against union interests (e.g., by prohibiting collective bargaining) or they aligned with union positions (e.g. by providing…

In the era of No Child Left Behind, principals are increasingly held accountable for student performance. But are teacher labor agreements giving them enough flexibility to manage effectively? This study answers this question and others. It examines how much flexibility school leaders enjoy on key dimensions of management in America's fifty…

To discover how teachers feel about a bonus program designed to give stipends to teachers with few absences, the author surveyed teachers in two elementary schools, one an urban school with a heterogeneous student body and the other suburban and homogeneous. By using a questionnaire, information was gathered on (1) standard demographic…

In 1981, a study was undertaken for the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) to compare CCC's faculty personnel practices with those of 30 other urban community colleges. Twelve areas of concern for future bargaining negotiations were studied: (1) faculty salaries; (2) overload compensation; (3) compensation for substitution; (4) nature of…

Describes a survey of the deans of instruction and five faculty members at 60 community colleges to compare unionized and nonunionized colleges in terms of extrinsic/college-sponsored rewards (e.g., staff development opportunities, travel funding, or research/professional growth opportunities) and intrinsic/work-related rewards (e.g., opportunity…

A 1972-73 study found a negative correlation between collective bargaining and teacher salary levels in Wisconsin. Replication of the study in 1979-80 indicated that collective negotiations had no significant effect on salaries or on fringe benefits and that socioeconomic factors were of highest significance. (PGD)

Data from 66 Iowa school districts with collective bargaining and 66 without collective bargaining were compared to determine if they differed in teacher salaries, fringe benefits, or provisions for leaves of absence. The time period covered extended from 1975-76 school year, 1 year before collective bargaining started, to 1979-80, the fourth year…

Using data from Rhode Island, this study investigated the extent to which teacher unions have won control gains, but not economic gains, at the bargaining table. (Author/PN)

The use of seniority in current school layoff and transfer practices and the impact of seniority provisions on school operations are examined in this paper. The data for the study came from two sources: interviews with teachers, principals, union leaders, and district administrators in four school districts (drawn from a national sample) facing…

The impact of market forces on negotiated salary guides for the hiring and retention of faculty was investigated through a survey of the collective bargaining agreements of four-year institutions. While the vast majority of the 117 contracts surveyed were silent on this issue, 16 agreements contained provisions. Fifteen provided for specific…