Educators at the Bargaining Table

Reviews / Votes

Professor DeMitchell's work on collective bargaining in Educators at the Bargaining Table is a must read, especially for aspiring school leaders. His work fills a gap in many educational leadership programs related to this most important topic. What makes DeMitchell's work so valuable, in addition to its in-depth research, is its use of a simulation that places readers in the midst of a collective bargaining situation. His ability to re-create that situation adds a dimension to this book that sets it apart. -- Mark Paige, J.D., Ph.D., is an associate professor of public policy at the University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth and former school law attorney representing school districts in New Hampshire Professor DeMitchell has produced a practical guide for collective bargaining in the education sector that will help all parties achieve a mutually beneficial collective bargaining agreement. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing that collective bargaining does not occur in a vacuum. Rather it takes place in the context of the ongoing relationship between a school board and a community of teachers. Professor DeMitchell's book is very much in the spirit of Getting Together and Getting To Yes, two influential books that emphasize the value of a collegial approach to bargaining rather than the adversarial model that often typifies labor relations in the industrial sector. The simulation section at the end of the book has been professionally crafted to give teachers and school administrators an opportunity to sharpen their collective bargaining skills in a learning environment without having to rely solely on on-the-job training, where mistakes can be costly and difficult to rectify. -- William Richard Fossey, Paul Burdin Endowed Professor of Education, University of Louisiana at Lafayette Informative and insightful, Professor DeMitchell delves deep into the issues of school district contract negotiation. He presents diverse aspects of collective bargaining exploring the mindset needed for both sides to find common ground. Throughout the text, DeMitchell builds the readers' expertise, knowledge, and ability to engage successfully in the concluding simulation. An essential resource for any instructor teaching in the field of education labor relations. -- Audrey Rogers, EdD, professor, School of Education, Southern New Hampshire University