As you may know, Texas is a “right to work” (RTW) state. RTW supporters say that this gives people the personal freedom to choose whether or not to join a union. What it actually means, is that people are free to join the union but are equally free to choose to free-ride on the work the union is doing, but without paying their fair share.
Also in Texas, collective bargaining is explicitly illegal, except for Police, Fire, and EMS workers. Teachers and educational staff are denied from being able to collectively bargain. Thanks to the late Texas AFT President Linda Bridges, however, we have the closest thing to it in Austin: Elective Consultation.
Under elective consultation, we are able to negotiate with AISD as the sole consultation agent. Education Austin has been elected as the sole Consultation Agent to represent all non-management employees in the district and discuss issues that concern them. These include wages, benefits, workplace safety, and conditions of employment. AISD’s board policy defines consultation as “advice, counsel, and exchange of information on matters pertaining to educational policies and conditions of employment.” All AISD employees are able to vote on who they want to represent them, and every time, they have voted for Education Austin.
We reach consultation agreements in consultation with the district. These are written documents created when the school board ratifies an agreement between Education Austin and AISD to change a policy or procedure for AISD. Some of these consultation agreements are then written into AISD policy. Others stand alone as agreements, which are typically enforced as if they were policy.
Each of these consultation agreements represents a victory for all employees in AISD. So despite being in an “RTW” state, we’re still doing great work.
Our Consultation Team
Our consultation team meets monthly with the district to bargain and approve consultation agreements based on needs and issues of our membership and worksites.
Caroline Sweet
Perez Elementary,
Instructional Coach
Emily Sharin
Patton Elementary,
Teacher Assistant
Ken zarifis
education austin President
Trasell Underwood
education austin VICE-President
Below you’ll find links to all of our consultation agreements dating back to 1999 when Education Austin was born.
2022-2023
- Link coming soon
2021-2022
- Link coming soon
2020-2021
2019-2020
- Resolution – Consultation Agent
- Substitute Pay for Teachers and Teachers Assistants
- 2020-2021 COMPENSATION CONSULTATION AGREEMENT
- 2021-2022 Compensation Agreement
2018-2019
- AFTER SCHOOL REQUIRED TIME FOR TEACHERS
- ANNUAL POLICY REVIEW 6-25-18
- COMPENSATION PLAN – SCHOOL CHANGES – AGREEMENT 6-13-19
- CONSULTATION AGREEMENT – COMPENSATION
- LEAVE TO BECOME US CITIZEN 6-25-18
2017-2018
2016-2017
- Employee Insurance (Link coming soon)
- Cafeteria Employee Uniforms (Link coming soon)
- Employee Compensation Effective SY 2016-17 (Link coming soon)
2015-2016
- Professional Pathways for Teachers (PPfT) Framework
- Custodial Evening Shift Pilot Program/Implementation
- Outsourcing Functions
- Consultation Update
- Resolution – Consultation Agent
- Employee Compensation (Link coming soon)
- Employee Insurance
- Transportation Employee Documentation
- Transportation Permanent Route Removal Procedures
2014-2015
- SY 2015-16 Safe School Bus Professional Development (Link coming soon)
- SY 2015-16 Safe School Bus Act Implementation and Support (Link coming soon)
- SY 2015-16 National Board Certification (Link coming soon)
- SY 2014-2015 Employee Compensation (Link coming soon)
- SY 2014-2015 Employee Health Insurance (Link coming soon)
2013-2014
- Spanish Language Communication for Classified Employees (Link coming soon)
- Special Education Stipend for CAC Counselors (Link coming soon)
- Bilingual Education Stipend for Counselors (Link coming soon)
- Addendum – Classified Employee Attendance Incentive Program (Link coming soon)
- Resolution – Term of Office (Link coming soon)
- SY 2013-2014 Employee Compensation (Link coming soon)
- Health Insurance for Qualifying Individuals (Link coming soon)
2012-2013
- Classified Employee Attendance Incentive Program
- $11.00 Per Hour Minimum for Classified Employees
- $21.00 Per Hour Minimum for School Police Officer I and II
- National Board Certification
2011-2012
- Counselor and Librarian Evaluations
- Joint Labor – Management Review of the Term of Employment Contracts
2010-2011
- Transition to Payroll Deposit
- 2010-11 School Year – AISD to Pay for Employee Health Insurance
- Continuation of Formal Joint Testing and Assessment Committee
2009-2010
- 2009-10 Salary Increase for All AISD Employees
- 2009-10 Employee Life Insurance
- 2009-10 Employee Health Insurance Benefits
- Teacher Access to Classrooms
- Resolving Issues with Required Meetings
- Employee Compensation and School Facility Closures
- Timeline for Reprimand of Classified Employees
- Procedures Affecting Employees – Campus Closures
- Guidelines for Spanish Interpreters in ARD Meetings
- Regarding Evaluations for 9-10 Month Employees
- Parenting Leave
- Establishment of a Joint Committee on Testing and Assessment
2008-2009
- Certification of Illness
- Classified Employee Termination Appeal Process
- Salary Adjustment for AISD Police Officers
2007-2008
- Consultation for 2007-2008
- Special Area Teachers for 2007-2008
- Health Insurance for 2007-2008
- Salary Increase for 2007-2008
- Classified Employee of the Year
- Employee Assistance Program
- Joint Insurance Committee
- Secondary Teachers’ Planning and Preparation Time and Secondary Teachers Teaching an Additional Class
2006-2007
- Bilingual Education Stipend for 2007-2008
- Consultation for 2007-2008
- Health Insurance for 2006-2007
- Health Insurance for 2007-2008
- New Teacher Academy Attendance for 2006-2007
- Parent Support Specialists for 2006-2007
- Salary Increase for 2006-2007
- Salary Increase for 2007-2008
- Special Area Teachers for 2007-2008
- Supplemental Pay for Teachers Attending Training for 2006-07
2005-2006
- Austin ISD Bus Driver and Monitor Committee
- Classified Employee Training Video
- Employee Health Insurance
- Increase Stipend for Bilingual Ed Teachers
- Living Wage
- Payment for New Teacher Academy Training
- PDAS Waiver for Retired/Rehired Teachers
- Support for Mentoring in AISD
2004-2005
2003-2004
- Civic Leave for Non-Twelve-Month Classified Employees During Summer Employment
- National Board Certification
- Presentations at Employee Orientations
2002-2003
2001-2002
- Classified Employee Service Credit
- Stipend for National Board Certification
- Stipend for Middle School/Junior High Special Education Department Chair
- Stipend for Bilingual Teachers
- Substitute Teacher Compensation
- Education Austin Annual Consultation Survey
2000-2001
- Classified Job Description
- Development Leave
- District Committees
- Movement of Classified Employees
- State and Local Leave
- Memo on Time (Link coming soon)