Ron RamseyNASHVILLE – Gov. Bill Haslam said Monday he understands Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey’s proposal on collective bargaining for teachers but wants it “fleshed out on paper” before deciding whether to support it.
“I’ve heard the concept and again, I understand the concept, that all of these issues would be things that would be in the [local education agency] handbook to talk about,” Haslam said. “And I said, I like the concept. Let’s see what it looks like fleshed out on paper.”
Ramsey, R-Blountville, and Senate majority Republicans want to eliminate all collective bargaining by the teachers’ union.
Haslam, a Republican, and House majority Republicans, have balked on that. They support a scaled-back version that lets teachers continue negotiating on base pay and fringe benefits.
Senate Republicans are saying they will include language that would set up a procedure requiring school boards to talk to teachers. But school boards would not have to act on anything teachers seek.