Collective bargaining establishes a dialogue between reasonable people. The mutually agreed upon decisions become part of a written contract which lasts for a specified period of time, and is enforceable just like any contract.
Human and individual dignity is the most important single achievement of collective bargaining. Collective bargaining makes teachers equal partners with the board of education and its administrators. Children and the community benefit from collective bargaining because it fosters peaceful relations among school personnel and enables all employees to become decision-making partners in the education of children.
Collective bargaining provides a decision-making role for teachers within the school district by involving them in the development of educational policy and programs under which teachers teach and children learn.
Through collective bargaining, teachers have been able to improve student learning and teaching conditions in local schools. Enhancing the quality of the work environment, including providing adequate salaries to teachers, is extremely important to the future of education in California. Both are needed to attract young people into the teaching profession and to retain quality teachers in every classroom.
Through collective bargaining, teachers and other educational employees have been able to assure the opportunity of collaborative decision-making that is required to forward the cause of educational excellence.