TOPEKA — A bill that would allow associations other than the Kansas National Education Association greater access to teachers has passed a House committee.
House Bill 2229 would open up more opportunities for unions and associations to communicate with teachers, who in Kansas are largely represented by the KNEA.
Opponents of the bill called it a threat to the KNEA’s exclusive bargaining rights with the state.
Among the bill’s provisions:
–Communication with teachers by way of mailboxes and electronic mailboxes cannot be allowed for one education association without making it available to other associations.
–If an association is permitted to attend teacher orientations to recruit new members, all other associations must be allowed the same right.
–No school may endorse one employee association over another, nor may it give any preferential treatment to any association.
“This is an end-run around the Professional Negotiations Act,” said Rep. Judith Loganbill, D-Wichita. “This is a big, huge slap in the face of every teacher in the state.”
Committee Chairman Rep. Steve Brunk, R-Bel Aire, said that he didn’t think the bill was in conflict with KNEA’s exclusive bargaining rights, but simply allowed for other associations to communicate with teachers.
Loganbill, like several other members of the committee, is a teacher.
Another teacher, Rep. Amanda Grosserode, R- Lenexa, said she chose not to join the KNEA because she didn’t like some of its political activity. She said that she was not made aware of any other association but the KNEA at her school.
“If you take this down to the lowest common denominator — the teachers — and you want them to have access to liability insurance, then you need to have something available to those who do not agree with the union’s stance on issues,” said Grosserode.
The bill will now go to the full House for consideration.
– Todd Fertig