Question

Statement: Unionization was not the only alternative. Another alternative could be a meeting between a group of teachers (representative) and the department of education. There could be an ongoing discussion between the parties to resolve the issues. The problem with unionization is that the situation may come to a deadlock with the formation of union.

Thefirst statement is very interesting....if a group of teachers...selected by the total teacher group...met with say, the mayor...if there is one...and the city council, and the school board, to discuss the school problems........is that negotiations? Did the teachers squeeze the community into a de facto type of union situation without doing any further organization of the teachers into an union?

Answer 1

It could certainly take the form of negotiations when the group of teachers meet the department of education to discuss about the concerns. Unionization makes the matter extreme. In case of Unionization, the groups usually forms an opinion against each other and hence are not in the position to accept the arguments placed by the other party owing to the ‘mental block’. On the other side, a meeting without getting Unionized makes the parties incidental to the discussion, more open to accept the ideas and concerns of the other party. Negotiations thus happen in a more beneficial way because the parties are willing to understand and communicate with each other.

The Teachers tactfully converted the Unionization into a de facto type of union situation in a manner that the party is not looked upon as an ‘extremist’ but instead, as a Negotiator to the discussion with the Department of education.