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Teachers and staff press board for democratic collective-bargaining process amid questions about an employer agreement
Summary
Several FCPS staff, union leaders and educators urged the board to adopt a resolution enabling a democratic collective-bargaining vote and warned against a unilateral employer agreement; the board and staff said legal review of memoranda of understanding and letter agreements is ongoing.
A string of educators, union leaders and community supporters urged the Fayette County Board of Education on Tuesday to adopt a resolution enabling staff to vote on whether to pursue collective bargaining and to decide their representative democratically.
Multiple speakers from local unions and educator groups addressed the board in public comment. Sarah Feitmaster Bailey, president of KY 120 United AFT and a kindergarten teacher, asked the board to "pass our resolution...that allows FCPS staff to have a real voice" and urged the board to permit a democratic vote by staff on whether to bargain and who should represent them. "Let us vote," Bailey said.
Teachers and union leaders said they had followed district procedures and sought formal recognition for a collective bargaining process that would allow staff to choose representation. Ryan Davis, a Bryan Station High School teacher, asked the board and district leadership to abandon any premature agreement that would give a single labor organization exclusive bargaining rights for all FCPS staff and instead allow staff to select their representative.
Context and district response: Several board members asked staff about a memorandum of understanding (MOU) or a letter-of-agreement that appeared briefly on an agenda item. Board members said they had questions about exclusivity language and the legal process; district staff told the board the item was "a work in progress" and that additional legal review and clarification would be provided. Superintendent and staff representatives indicated that discussions and drafts were ongoing and not final. One district official confirmed a letter of agreement had been signed on May 6 and noted the board would be informed.
Why it matters: The requests go to core workplace governance: whether district employees will have a formal, democratically decided option to engage in collective bargaining and, if so, how representation will be determined. Speakers argued that a staff vote is the appropriate democratic step and expressed concern about any back-channel agreements that might preclude staff choice.
What the board did: The board did not adopt a collective bargaining resolution at the meeting; the public comment focused on urging the board to allow staff a vote and to avoid exclusive agreements drafted without broad staff input. Board members asked staff to provide legal clarification on the status of MOUs or letters of agreement and noted that any formal bargaining process will require clear legal and procedural steps.
Ending note: Union leaders said they will continue to press for a board resolution to enable a staff vote and urged transparency and protection from retaliation in the interim. District staff committed to returning with clarifying legal documentation.
