This article examines how teachers unions affect teachers' well-being under various legal institutions. Using a district-teacher matched data set, this study identifies the union effects by three approaches. First, I contrast teacher outcomes across different state laws toward unions. Second, I compare the union-nonunion differentials within the…

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…

Charter schools see as many as one in four teachers leave annually, and recent evidence attributes much of this turnover to provisions affected by collective bargaining processes and state laws such as salary, benefits, job security, and working hours. There have been many recent efforts to improve teacher voice in charter schools (Kahlenberg…

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…

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the typical terms and conditions of employment in 2012-2013 negotiated agreements in Pennsylvania school districts, and to determine if there was a relationship between enrollment size and 5 selected terms and conditions of employment: base salary; highest salary; teacher contribution for one…

In 2006, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching developed an elective classification for community engagement for institutions of higher education. To receive the classification, campuses must complete an application and respond to questions by providing evidence that demonstrates a commitment to sustaining and increasing their…

Leaders of the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) charter schools are optimistic that they can reach a long-term agreement with the Baltimore (Maryland) Teachers Union in a nationally watched dispute over teacher pay for an extended school day, reducing the likelihood that the charter network will carry out its threat to close its two schools in…

This chapter explores recent legal challenges and victories brought forth by part-time community college faculty in Washington State in an effort to attain equity and social justice.

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…

Once as familiar in the back-to-school ritual as falling leaves, teacher strikes seem headed for a winter freeze. According to the nation's largest teacher's union, about 15 of the National Education Association's (NEA) 14,000 local affiliates have gone on strike since the start of this school year. In Pennsylvania--a traditional union…

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…

For today's public school teachers, unlike most professionals, years employed rather than performance determines where they work, how much they are paid, and whether they can be fired. To achieve professionalism teachers will need to jettison the tactics of industrial-style unionism in favor of organizations more like the medieval guilds. (MLF)

This agreement is in effect from September 19, 1974 until July 1, 1975. Articles of the agreement cover: academic freedom, selection of deans, annual review of faculty, leaves of absence, faculty load, grievance procedures, salaries, fringe benefits, and faculty appointments. Appendixes include sections covering salaries, fringe benefits, summer…

This agreement, dated 1 September 1973, is effective until 31 August 1975. Articles of the agreement cover: administration-union relationships; academic freedom and responsibility; grievance and arbitration; Academic ranks; appointments; union activity; class size; personnel files; workload; salaries; fringe benefits; tenure and lay-offs; and…

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…