Bills Aim To Help Non-Teachers

Sen. Tim Tucker, D-Porthill, proposed two bills to a Senate committee Thursday designed to help thousands of non-certified school district employees.

The first bill, which Tucker admits would be a long-shot for passage in the GOP-controlled Legislature, would allow janitors, bus drivers and all types of other district workers to enter into the same collective bargaining agreements as teachers.

“This affects thousands and thousands of workers in our state who make our schools run,” Tucker said.

Though the committee agreed to give the bill a hearing, it may not make it to the Senate floor.

Tucker said he has a better chance with a “meet-and-confer” bill that would allow those non-teacher workers to meet with management, but without the formal commitment of collective bargaining.