Collective Bargaining in a Crisis

Collective bargaining agreements - the contracts between local associations and their employers - set the working conditions for educators and the learning conditions for the students they serve. Sometimes, negotiations don't go smoothly. We're taking a closer look at what led to a strike for the Gahanna Jefferson Education Association and how a strike was averted for the Switzerland of Ohio Education Association.

Show Notes

"We truly did what we thought was right, and fought for what we thought was right." - Betsy Baker

Featured guests: 

• Betsy Baker, Gahanna Jefferson Education Association crisis spokesperson
  • A proud Gahanna Jefferson Public Schools graduate, Betsy Baker has taught for nine years in the Gahanna Jefferson district in central Ohio. She teaches Geometry and AP Calculus at Gahanna Lincoln High School. Baker served as a liaison between Gahanna Jefferson Education Association members and the community during GJEA's strike in October, 2020.
  • Connect with the Gahanna Jefferson Education Association on Facebook.
• Karissa Wooddell, Switzerland of Ohio Education Association crisis spokesperson
  • A sixth year teacher, Karissa Wooddell currently serves the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District as an Intervention Specialist in the District Behavior Unit at Powhatan Elementary School. Switzerland of Ohio, a sprawling rural district in southeastern Ohio, is largest geographic district in the state. Wooddell acted as media spokesperson for the Switzerland of Ohio Education Association throughout their negotiations with the school board, which ultimately led to a full agreement in late-December, 2020.
  • Connect with the Switzerland of Ohio Education Association on Facebook.

In this episode:

“You question when you’re standing out there in the cold and the rain, ‘Is this what I should be doing?’ And when community members, when parents and students, are standing there with you saying, ‘yeah, you’re doing the right thing,’ it definitely keeps you going.” - Betsy Baker

• Gahanna Jefferson Education Association's successful strike for safety, equity, and student success
  • 1:45 - GJEA bargaining and strike timeline
  • 3:15 - Safety issues at the center of the crisis
  • 4:40 - The dangers of live-streaming to students under the proposed model and what went wrong
  • 6:20 - Addressing COVID-19 health and safety concerns in the contract negotiation process
  • 6:40 - Reflecting on the days on the picket lines 
  • 8:45 - Community support for the striking teachers
  • 9:20 - Reaching a tentative agreement
  • 10:15 - The road to becoming GJEA's spokesperson

“It’s exhausting, it’s draining, it’s very mentally tough to be out there [on the picket line], but at the same time, there were these awesome things to come out of it... It was a really remarkable experience for our staff members to be able to stand on the line with each other.” - Betsy Baker

• Switzerland of Ohio Education Association's crisis negotiations lead to a contract agreement after members voted to authorize a 10-day strike notice, if needed
  • 12:25 - Negotiating a contract amidst the challenges of teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • 12:50 - Weighing the thought of not being in the classroom against the need to reach a fair contract agreement for the good of the students
  • WTOV9 covered a community rally December 10, 2020, that apparently marked a turning point in negotiations. See the full news stories referenced in this episode here and here. 
  • 13:45 - The power of community support for SOEA
  • 15:15 - Negotiating competitive salaries to attract and retain the most qualified educators for Switzerland of Ohio students
  • 16:20 - Reaching and ratifying a fair contract deal

“It was unbelievable to think a fair contract agreement that supported our students was not achievable in a timely manner. The idea of being outside of our classrooms and away from our students anymore than we already had been was a pretty difficult thought. However, we knew that no matter what, we had to stand in solidarity to reach a fair contract agreement that would benefit all of our students.” - Karissa Wooddell

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About us:

• The Ohio Education Association represents more than 120,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals who work in Ohio’s schools, colleges, and universities to help improve public education and the lives of Ohio’s children. OEA members provide professional services to benefit students, schools, and the public in virtually every position needed to run Ohio’s schools.
• Education Matters host Katie Olmsted serves as Media Relations Consultant for the Ohio Education Association. She joined OEA in May, 2020, after a ten-year career as a television reporter, anchor, and producer. Katie comes from a family of educators and is passionate about telling educators' stories and advocating for Ohio's students. 

This episode was recorded in January, 2021.

What is Public Education Matters?

Ohio's public schools serve 1.6 million children - 90 percent of students in the state! What happens in the classroom has impacts far beyond the walls of the K-12 school building or higher ed lecture hall. So, on behalf of the 120,000 members of the Ohio Education Association, we're taking a deeper dive into some of the many education issues facing our students, educators, and communities. Originally launched in 2021 as Education Matters, Public Education Matters is your source for insightful conversations with the people who shape the education landscape in Ohio. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on Public Education Matters? Email us at [e-mail]