The meeting began with an introduction and welcome by a Board member. The TK began their explanation with a celebration of the constructive and transparent manner in which negotiations had been conducted with the Directorate over the previous nine months.
The TK then gave some historical context, without which the demand for a CBA cannot be fully understood. We voiced our concern that a Works Agreement (WA) conducted purely with the Betriebsrat (BR) would not protect employees against the type of top down decision making that has caused such regular dissent over the years, and has resulted in the exploitation of staff through ever declining reward and ever increasing tension primarily in matters related to salary and working hours.
The TK argued the fact that it was staff members who constituted “The Union” at BIS – not some nebulous force emanating from Ver.di HQ. The union was not formally represented at negotiations at the request of the Directorate, to facilitate the forward movement of discussions. The school TK members along with an invited observer from the BR conducted the negotiations on behalf of the union. We reached agreement and then were told the Board would not sign that agreement. We regard this as a breach of trust and good faith established early on in the negotiations.
The TK then gave some historical context, without which the demand for a CBA cannot be fully understood. We voiced our concern that a Works Agreement (WA) conducted purely with the Betriebsrat (BR) would not protect employees against the type of top down decision making that has caused such regular dissent over the years, and has resulted in the exploitation of staff through ever declining reward and ever increasing tension primarily in matters related to salary and working hours.
The TK argued the fact that it was staff members who constituted “The Union” at BIS – not some nebulous force emanating from Ver.di HQ. The union was not formally represented at negotiations at the request of the Directorate, to facilitate the forward movement of discussions. The school TK members along with an invited observer from the BR conducted the negotiations on behalf of the union. We reached agreement and then were told the Board would not sign that agreement. We regard this as a breach of trust and good faith established early on in the negotiations.
The TK reminded the Board that salary and working hours have no rights of co-determination or conciliation when conducted with the Betriebsrat. What the Board want us to do is sign away our right to have a voice in the discussion concerning salary and working hours. Joining a trade union is the only legal way we can have a voice, - it is a constitutional right. It is a perfectly normal thing to do. Lots of workers do it. We reminded the board that everything else concerning the normal work of representing employees would continue to be conducted by the BR. Only in this one, single, significant area do we demand representation – we want a professional voice to represent us when salaries and working hours are being determined. This is common in the German workplace we highlighted. The union is not an extremist organisation – it works with the employer to represent employees in a spirit of compromise.
Both sides noted that the content of the agreement reached between the TK and the Directorate was acceptable. The disagreement came when the TK asked why the Board was not prepared to sign a CBA. How do we codify the agreement reached?
After listening to the TK’s arguments the Board immediately let it be known in no uncertain terms that a union would never be part of the working environment at BIS. Members of the Board expressed their opinion that unions do not work in the interests of the employees or the employer, they are purely self-motivated and self-serving. They let it be known that, through their personal experience, they regarded trade unions as a destructive presence, Ver.di being the worst. A Board member expressed the opinion that teachers in the future could be “flaming socialists”, that the school did not need a third party “sticking their nose in” where it did not belong. Another Board member expressed astonishment as to why we would not proceed with an agreement made in good faith.
We agree, why not sign this agreement made in good faith, through a CBA, which would offer stability and security for all staff? Why would the TK agree to a Works Agreement conducted with the BR that would permanently disenfranchise staff of any right to a voice in determining their future salaries and working hours? It would be like a turkey voting for Christmas.
The strident tone of the Board, expressing quite clearly its personal antipathy to a trade union presence in the school, brought the meeting to a close. It is quite clear to the TK the Board’s opposition to trade union representation is deeply rooted. We are disappointed that the Board is prepared to sacrifice, with one blow, the good will, the trust, the good faith and the constructive atmosphere generated over the course of the negotiations between the Directorate and Staff represented by the TK.
The TK want what is best for the school, the Board do not seem to understand that, do not want to listen, and now are doing all in their power to stifle the voice of staff who are simply expressing their constitutional right for representation.
We had hoped for a more fruitful conversation, unfortunately we came away with an image of dogged entrenchment. Let us put an end to this and give staff the voice they desire and deserve in the better interest of all in the community. Then we can all get back to doing what we love best - working to make BIS a wonderful community of workers and learners.
Both sides noted that the content of the agreement reached between the TK and the Directorate was acceptable. The disagreement came when the TK asked why the Board was not prepared to sign a CBA. How do we codify the agreement reached?
After listening to the TK’s arguments the Board immediately let it be known in no uncertain terms that a union would never be part of the working environment at BIS. Members of the Board expressed their opinion that unions do not work in the interests of the employees or the employer, they are purely self-motivated and self-serving. They let it be known that, through their personal experience, they regarded trade unions as a destructive presence, Ver.di being the worst. A Board member expressed the opinion that teachers in the future could be “flaming socialists”, that the school did not need a third party “sticking their nose in” where it did not belong. Another Board member expressed astonishment as to why we would not proceed with an agreement made in good faith.
We agree, why not sign this agreement made in good faith, through a CBA, which would offer stability and security for all staff? Why would the TK agree to a Works Agreement conducted with the BR that would permanently disenfranchise staff of any right to a voice in determining their future salaries and working hours? It would be like a turkey voting for Christmas.
The strident tone of the Board, expressing quite clearly its personal antipathy to a trade union presence in the school, brought the meeting to a close. It is quite clear to the TK the Board’s opposition to trade union representation is deeply rooted. We are disappointed that the Board is prepared to sacrifice, with one blow, the good will, the trust, the good faith and the constructive atmosphere generated over the course of the negotiations between the Directorate and Staff represented by the TK.
The TK want what is best for the school, the Board do not seem to understand that, do not want to listen, and now are doing all in their power to stifle the voice of staff who are simply expressing their constitutional right for representation.
We had hoped for a more fruitful conversation, unfortunately we came away with an image of dogged entrenchment. Let us put an end to this and give staff the voice they desire and deserve in the better interest of all in the community. Then we can all get back to doing what we love best - working to make BIS a wonderful community of workers and learners.