Collective bargaining teams for IEA locals across the state have begun negotiations for 2022-23 educator contracts in earnest. These teams of IEA members, trained in collective bargaining best practices by IEA organizers, negotiate on behalf of all educators in their school district — not just members of their IEA local.
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This year’s negotiations come on the heels of one of the most successful legislative sessions for education in recent memory in which more than 150 IEA members directly lobbied lawmakers on behalf of all educators in Idaho. Because of IEA member influence with lawmakers, these IEA negotiating teams have a significant opportunity help improve their public schools and secure better pay, benefits and working conditions for all educators in their school districts.
Additionally, these negotiations come as IEA members work through the IEA’s Political Action Committee for Education or PACE to build on this year’s legislative momentum to elect more pro-public education policymakers.
Successes in the public policy arena give negotiating teams momentum to win better contracts for their fellow educators – a fact educators who have not joined the IEA should take notice of, said IEA Executive Director Paul Stark.
“When IEA members secure electoral, legislative or collective bargaing wins, they do so on behalf all educators, not just IEA members,” Stark said. “The successes education enjoyed so far this year make this the perfect time for IEA members to talk to educators who haven’t joined IEA yet — let them know what IEA does for them. Tell them it’s time they join the team that’s working the hardest on behalf of students, public education and educators.”