This is the third in a series of articles regarding contract negotiations, within the Oswego City School District, and between the Board of Education and the five unions representing approximately 750 employees. In this column, we will look at the procedures associated with negotiating a contract with a union.
Negotiations are really a give and take between two parties.
The framework for rules regarding the give and take process, or procedures for negotiating in New York State, has been established by the Taylor Law. There are specific procedural issues that must be followed in New York State, when a school district enters into negotiations with a union, and is negotiating a collective bargaining agreement. The Taylor Law specifically obligates both parties to negotiate in good faith over the terms and conditions of employment. As one of the first steps in beginning the negotiating process, both parties usually agree to rules on how they will conduct negotiations. These rules are known as ground rules when they are not included in the contract.