The House Ways and Means Committee will be holding a hearing on November 17 at 11:00 AM in Room 103 of the House Office Building on education collective bargaining legislation.  Legislation was introduced last Session (HB 1243/SB 673) that would have expanded the collective bargaining process between boards of education and employee organizations and introduced binding arbitration.

The Senate amended the bill to create a new public education labor relations board to make final decisions on the scope of bargaining and union contract disputes, a power currently held by the State Board of Education.  It also opened all “permissive” subjects to the mediation process.  MACo joined with MABE in opposing the bill.

The amended bill passed the Senate but the House took no action.  MSEA has stated the legislation will be a top priority this year and both House and Senate leadership have indicated that some form of the bill is going to pass. 

For further information, check the General Assembly Hearing schedule at:  http://mlis.state.md.us/2009RS/hearsch/hs_index.htm