The hope for a promising future: labor-management collaboration

Across the nation, a transformative movement is gaining momentum: labor-management collaboration in education. From New Jersey to California, school districts are embracing a paradigm where union members, administrators and school boards are working together as partners, united in their commitment to student-centered goals. 

The benefits of this collaborative approach are many. When educators in their unions and administrators in districts and schools work together as a problem-solving team, they can align their efforts towards common goals, such as improving student outcomes, enhancing teacher retention and fostering a positive school culture. By embracing open communication, mutual trust and shared decision-making, labor-management partnerships in education are paving the way for innovative solutions that benefit students, teachers and the entire school community.

This collaborative approach is not merely a fleeting trend; labor management collaboration has been occurring in pockets across the country in various industries for decades. However, without a supportive infrastructure, collaborative efforts run the risk of dissolving when collaboratively minded leaders from one of the stakeholder groups leaves. Sustaining collaboration beyond the tenure of the individuals involved and protecting the benefits of labor-management collaboration for students and educators requires intentionality. That’s why a new vision is coming to life: the creation of a nationwide system of support for collaborative labor-management partnerships.

One thing is clear: In a time when there are many forces that seek to divide us, collaboration in public education can unite stakeholders in powerful ways to support educator and student well-being. 

States supporting districts & schools

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of attending a remarkable event in New Jersey sponsored by the National Education Association and co-hosted by the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, New Jersey Education Association, New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association and New Jersey School Boards Association. Together, these education stakeholder groups ran a day-long workshop for labor-management teams from districts across New Jersey as well as some educators from Delaware looking to establish their own collaborative practice. 

And I recently visited a lively gathering in San Diego, run by the California Labor Management Initiative (CALMI), a coalition comprised of state leaders involved with labor-management partnerships. CALMI offered a three-day Summer Institute for district-level labor-management teams from California and beyond. The event included district teams comprised of union leaders, rank and file teachers and education support professionals, administrators and school board members. The teams came together to learn, share experiences and develop actionable plans for their respective communities.

The energy and enthusiasm in these rooms were palpable. Participants eagerly shared their successes, challenges and insights, fostering a collaborative environment where ideas could flourish. Although each district was engaged in its own solution-building process around its unique issues, these cross-district events allow for peer-to-peer networking and support, promote the spread of innovative ideas and build a sustainable system of support. It was evident that these teams were not just attending another professional development session; they are part of a movement that has the potential to reshape the educational landscape.

The National Labor Management Partnership

The National Labor Management Partnership (NLMP), a coalition of influential educational organizations, including the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), National School Boards Association (NSBA) and National Education Association (NEA), is helping build and sustain partnerships in public education. The NLMP has developed a comprehensive guidebook, “Collaborating for Student Success,” which serves as a roadmap for districts seeking to implement collaborative practices. This guidebook provides a step-by-step framework for establishing and sustaining labor-management partnerships, offering practical strategies, case studies and tools to support districts on their journey. It provides guidance on navigating the complexities of building trust, fostering open communication and aligning their efforts towards shared goals.

Each of the NLMP partners is invested in promoting collaboration as a strategy that benefits both its members and public education at large. The NEA, for example, has invested $3 million to implement labor-management collaboration as a strategy for increasing educator voice in decision-making. NEA’s investment is supporting state partnerships in Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine, Iowa, Delaware and New Jersey, which in turn are supporting district teams to collaborate for student success. 

There are also some resources for districts in states without an emerging state partnership,. As one example, NEA offers an e-learning course and partners with the Catalyst for Educational Change to provide facilitated learning cohorts for interested districts. The NLMP and its partners are committed to ensuring that every district, in every state, has a pathway to engage in labor-management collaboration. 

A hopeful future

Many challenges in the nation’s public education system remain, but those positioned closest to our students and families are in the best position to address them. By embracing this approach, the partners and practitioners will help create a more inclusive, equitable and effective educational system that truly serves the needs of students, teachers, and communities. Labor-management collaboration offers us a unifying and helpful path forward, together. 

Darnice Marsh is the labor-management partnership coordinator in the Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards.

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