The Waynesboro Education Association (WEA) has advocated for Waynesboro School Board to consider collective bargaining since fall 2023.
Collective bargaining would give Waynesboro teachers and staff a voice when it comes to policies and decisions made by the school board. After Virginia passed legislation in 2020, each school board in the Commonwealth can make the decision to allow collective bargaining for its employees.
Members of the association have consistently attended the school board’s monthly regular meetings and spoken during public comments on the advantages of allowing teachers and staff to unionize. WEA would possibly represent Waynesboro teachers and staff as a union.
According to Waynesboro Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeff Cassell, the WEA will take a vote from the school system’s employees in the fall after the school board has discussed the option.
“So, it’s necessary to establish the rules for collective bargaining certification. Not if you’re going to participate or not. Just so everybody knows the rules going in,” Cassell said at the school board’s regular meeting Tuesday.
Establishing rules about collective bargaining in Waynesboro Schools does not mean the school board has adopted or declined the possibility for employees, but that a discussion is underway.
Cassell said that state law requires school boards to adopt a resolution on collective bargaining rules. The school board will consider adopting a resolution on collective bargaining rules at its regular July meeting, which will be held at the Central Office at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22.
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Rebecca Barnabi
