It is not in the interest of teachers to negotiate far into the future for the simple reason that they would lose out on comparable benefits packages negotiated in other districts. Nor do school boards have an incentive to commit future school boards to collective bargaining agreements when school budgets are uncertain. We conclude that integration of collective bargaining agreements is not precluded by Wis. Stat. We believe that as a practical matter, this holding comports with actual practice in the process of collective bargaining. Although contracts must be for a term of two years, negotiations do not follow such strict guidelines.
Collective bargaining is a fluid process that requires flexibility.
As NBEA noted in its brief, it has long been the practice throughout the state that when parties are unable to reach an agreement and are without a contract for an extended period of time, the parties will settle the outstanding year of a collective bargaining agreement and the subsequent collective bargaining agreement at the same time. By the Court. Recommended for publication in the official reports. All references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to the 1999-2000 version unless otherwise noted. The tentative agreement had provisions that phased in over the duration of the two contracts.