Collective bargaining has been a challenge for educators and labor workers in Prince William County. As next week’s school board meeting prepares to hear more discussions on moving forward in the process, the Prince William Education Association has created a petition to let their requests be made known. During the special meeting on October 4, several supporters spoke at the meeting, with teachers, parents and representatives from SEIU 512 standing in unison.

Earlier that day, the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis (TCI) released a report detailing the benefits of collective bargaining for educators and students. The report, “Collective Bargaining: A Critical Tool to Improve School Staffing, Pay, and Morale,” outlines research about how collective bargaining will positively impact student experience, staffing retention, educator pay, and staff morale in Virginia public schools.

For more information on the petition and know the PWEA’s requests, visit the site.