GREENVILLE, PA Panel would study statewide bargaining for teacher pacts

GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Pa. State Rep. Rod Wilt of Greenville, R-17th, is sponsoring legislation setting up a task force to study the workability of statewide collective contract bargaining by the state's public schoolteachers.
The state would negotiate the agreement and be responsible for funding its terms, he said, adding that the proposal could be part of a property tax reform package.
The task force, to be made up of 17 people who have experience in public education, would be asked to provide the Legislature and government with recommendations on how joint negotiating could be implemented, Wilt said.
"This legislation could be an important step toward equity in education funding," he said.
"The task force will empower us with answers about whether a statewide collective bargaining agreement is the answer to help rein in school costs."
Under the legislation, teachers would negotiate with the state, not their local school boards, Wilt said.