Collective Bargaining and Unions

Complete the following questions using the Collective Bargaining Agreement from the school
district you are observing. Please cite the page number you located each answer.
1. What school district did you research? Provide the exact web address or link to the
collective bargaining agreement.
I researched School District 88. https://dupage88.net/site/public/files/?item=941
2. What is a collective bargaining agreement? What people/groups of people are involved in
the collective bargaining process?
A collective bargaining agreement is a contract formed between the upper management
of an organization and the union that represents the organization's employees. The
contract defines certain conditions of employment such as wages, benefits, and working
hours and also has instructions for filing a dispute. In this case it is the Board of
Education from District 88 and the District 88 Council, Local 571 (American Federation
of Teachers.) [Page 4]
3. What are the teachers contracted hours and days (hours/days teachers have to be in the
school building)?
Teachers must work Monday through Friday for seven and one-third consecutive clock
hours. All time worked above this is considered unassigned. A work day cannot begin
before 7:30 AM. The school year consists of 177 attendance days, 1 parent conference
day, 1 professional work day, 4 institute days, and 5 emergency days. [Pages 17 and 11]
4. How much planning and preparation time do teachers in this district get each week (this
may be different at each grade level)? Is any of the time designated for certain activities
(i.e. common grade level plan time, data discussions, etc.)
There is no specific planning and preparation time stated, however it can be inferred that
the remaining time left after a teacher's five instructional periods can be used for this
purpose. There is also a Student Resource Period devoted to addressing individual
student needs and performance. [Page 17]
5. What is the current evaluation process for teachers?
There are the Teacher Evaluation Plan and the Non-Tenured Teacher Evaluation Plan that
are conducted annually by administration. Specific details of these plans are not stated.
[Page 16]
6. What does the document say about class size? Is there a limit? What happens if that limit
is exceeded?
There is no specific limit stated. The document recommends that class sizes be
appropriate for the resources provided and for proper learning conditions. It states that
class sizes will be consistent throughout the district. [Page 12]

7. What type of mentoring program or training do new teachers go through?

During their first year, new teachers must attend a New Teachers Orientation that is three
days long and six hours each day. Additional required meetings are held throughout the
school year as determined by the principal. [Page 13]
8. Are teachers allotted sick and personal days? If so, how many?
Teachers who have worked fifteen or less years in the district are allowed fifteen sick
days a year. A teacher who has worked more than fifteen years is allowed nineteen sick
days. All teachers also receive three personal leave days. [Pages 28 and 30]
9. What is a grievance and how is the process carried out?
A grievance is a suspected violation that a person believes is occurring with part of the
collective bargaining agreement. To carry out the process, first a teacher must submit a
"Statement of Grievance" to the principal. A meeting is held between the teacher, union,
and principal, and if it is not resolved then it is sent to the district superintendent. If it is
still not resolved, the grievance will be heard at the next Board of Education meeting.
Finally if it is still unresolved, the American Arbitration Association will provide a panel
of arbitrators to choose from and the remaining arbitrator will make the final decision
concerning the grievance. [Page 24]
10. How are teachers compensated in this district? Please provide the salary of a first year
teacher that holds a Bachelors degree for the 2014-2015 school year? What is the salary
of a teacher with a Masters degree and 15 years experience for the 2014-2015 school
year? Based on the number of days per year required and hours per day required calculate
the hourly rate for both scenarios. Take the number of days multiplied by hours worked
(i.e. 180 days X 7 hours a day = 1,260 hours). Divide the salary by the total hours (i.e.
$48,000 / 1,260 = $38.10/hour).
Teachers are compensated with a salary determined by how many years they have worked
and the type of degree they hold.
The 2014-2015 salary of a first year teacher with a Bachelor's degree = $50,445.95
This is an hourly rate of $37.59/hour.
The 2014-2015 salary of a 15 year teacher with a Master's degree = $95,342.86
This is an hourly rate of $71.05/hour.
[Page 52]
11. How are extra duties (coaching, clubs, lunch duty etc.) compensated?
Extra duties, such as coaching and clubs, are compensated by a onetime stipend payment.
[Pages 54-67]