The Waynesboro Education Association (WEA) is working to bring collective bargaining to Waynesboro Schools and secure more of a voice for teachers and staff at school board meetings.
“It’s an issue that has come up for a long time,” said Laura Riggan, WEA vice president and a history teacher at Waynesboro High School.
Collective bargaining was not an option legally for teachers until state legislation passed in 2020. However, according to WEA President Kathryn Brown, a 2nd-grade teacher at Wenonah Elementary School, the choice is up to each school board in Virginia.
Ed McNett, chair of the WEA’s committee on collective bargaining, said a union for Waynesboro teachers and staff would allow bargaining for details in employee contracts, a voice in the details and scheduling. A union would be the voice for teachers with the school board, for example, on creating a protective planning period.
“It’s a seat at the table. That’s all we’re asking for,” McNett, an English teacher at Waynesboro High, said. At this time, the WEA committee is “trying to convince the school board that they should vote in favor of [collective bargaining].”
The WEA committee began in fall 2023 as more school systems in Virginia were moving toward collective bargaining. Charlottesville, Albemarle County and Harrisonburg school boards have voted yes, according to the WEA. School systems in Northern Virginia are in the process of considering unions, just as is Waynesboro Schools. Richmond City Schools was the first in Virginia.
Collective bargaining is important for Waynesboro because of teacher retention, McNett said. The WEA believes that a teacher union in Waynesboro would attract more new teachers to the school system with the union providing support for new staff.
“We in Waynesboro, we have some seat at the table,” Riggan said of monthly meetings between the WEA and Waynesboro Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeff Cassell. But, at any point, Waynesboro Schools administration could rescind that seat at the table.
Paula Sherrill is a member of the WEA and a retired Waynesboro Schools teacher. She taught French for 42 years at Waynesboro High. Sherrill has also been an active member of the state and national educational associations. Born in Waynesboro, she said the city is growing and she sees “collective bargaining as a real plus” for new residents. The benefits could spread out into the community.
“Waynesboro needs something to stand out,” Sherrill said of attracting new teachers to the school system.
Brown said a teacher union would give teachers and staff a stronger voice.
“It’s also important to note our working conditions are our students’ learning conditions,” Brown said.
McNett said the WEA wanting to have collective bargaining is not a criticism of Waynesboro Schools administration. However, teachers have the deepest insight to what students need and a union would allow “for voices to be heard.”
“Our finger is on the pulse of how students are doing more than anything,” McNett said.
If collective bargaining were approved by Waynesboro School Board, teachers and staff would not have to pay dues to be part of the union. Teachers and staff only pay dues to be members of the WEA.
Riggan said that collective bargaining would make Waynesboro better, because it strengthens public education. Collective bargaining would allow Waynesboro Schools to compete more for funding and in attracting teachers and staff.
The next step for the WEA committee, McNett said, is to continue talking at school board meetings and raising awareness with teachers and staff about the effort to begin a union. Then surveys will be sent to Waynesboro teachers and staff to determine their interest in a teacher union.
Teachers and staff in Waynesboro who would like to learn more about the possibility of collective bargaining in Waynesboro Schools or who would like to express their support or that they do not support the effort are encouraged to email [email protected].
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Rebecca Barnabi
