RPS unions push back on bargaining changes
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The Richmond School Board meets inside City Hall. Photo: Karri Peifer/Axios
Richmond School Board is set to vote this week on the district's proposed changes to union contracts covering its teachers, support staff and bus drivers.
Why it matters: Union representatives say the district's plan would effectively "weaken workers' rights." RPS says it'll make the process more efficient.
Driving the news: School worker unions plan to hold a rally Monday night outside City Hall to call on the board to reject what they call a "rush policy" change.
- Meanwhile, 3rd District Councilwoman Kenya Gibson, who until last year represented the district on the school board, is asking her former colleagues to delay the vote.
- In a statement Friday, she called on the board to work with the unions on resolution changes that all parties could embrace.
State of play: In 2021, Richmond Public Schools became the first school system in the state to vote to allow its teachers to unionize after the General Assembly approved collective bargaining for public employees — a move that was widely celebrated by the district.
- Four years later, RPS is proposing changes to the underlying collective bargaining resolution that it says will streamline its process, per a news release.
- The unions — including Richmond Education Association, which represents RPS teachers, and Teamsters Local 322, which represents RPS custodians and maintenance staff — strongly disagree, writing in a statement that the changes would weaken the unions and their bargaining power.
Zoom in: The proposed changes, first reported by The Richmonder, include:
- Requiring union representatives to meet with members outside work hours and off school property unless they have permission from school leadership to meet on-site. RPS says this change would limit disruption to the school day.
- Making contract changes contingent on available funding. That could include pay, per the unions.
- Limiting to two the number of topics the union can negotiate on during all rounds of contract negotiations.
- Requiring grievances or complaints to be filed and considered by the school board in writing instead of via a hearing or meeting.
What's ahead: The School Board is scheduled to discuss the issue at its work session Monday night and vote on the changes Tuesday night.