TN House Passes Teacher Bargaining Bill
The state House has passed a bill to dial back teachers’ collective bargaining rights but stops short of eliminating union negotiations altogether.
The chamber voted 59-39 on Thursday to pass the bill sponsored by House Republican Caucus Chairwoman Debra Maggart of Hendersonville, after defeating several attempts to exempt counties around the state.
Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey said the upper chamber remains committed to its version of the bill, which would dismantle all collective bargaining requirements.
The Blountville Republican said he expects the bill to head to a conference committee to try to hammer out differences but that he doesn’t expect the Senate to budge from its position on eliminating union negotiations.
The House version would retain teachers’ bargaining, but shield areas like merit pay and teacher evaluation standards from negotiations.
