Legislative Alert Bill to Repeal QEO
The Senate Education Committee held a hearing on November 12 on a bill
(SB318) to repeal the Qualified Economic Offer law but has not yet taken
a vote.
The QEO law was passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor
in 1993. It replaced the mediation-arbitration law for settling teacher
contract disputes. The QEO law removes the ability of teachers to take
their contract disputes to arbitration unless the school board agrees.
The law has led to considerable labor unrest throughout the state.
The bill to repeal the QEO law has 19 sponsors. They are senators Kevin
Shibilski, Joe Wineke, Roger Breske, Brian Burke, Fred Risser, Alice
Clausing and Gary George; and representatives Tammy Baldwin, Wayne Wood,
John Ryba, John Lehman, Barbara Linton, Spencer Black, Doris Hanson,
Rebecca Young, Joe Plouff, Antonio Riley, Peter Bock, and Frank Boyle.
Talking Points for repeal of the QEO law
The QEO is unfair:
- Singles out and penalizes one group of public employees.
- Results in teacher compensation increases below the cost of living.
- Penalizes employees who are planning to retire by giving them a
life sentence of reduced pensions.
- Leaves employees with a take-it or leave-it job action option.
The QEO destroys collective bargaining:
- Blocks discussion of creative solutions to the challenges facing
public schools (such as proposals dealing with class size and teacher
preparation).
- Diminishes local control of the bargaining process.
- Discourages consensus bargaining.
The QEO harms the quality of public education:
- Blocks discussion of creative solutions to challenges facing public
schools.
- Discourages the best and the brightest from entering and staying
in the education profession.
- Contributes to lower employee morale.
- Reduces collaboration between labor and management.
- Produces labor/management tension which interferes with educational
quality.
Posted October 27, 1997; Update November 13, 1997