CDR Associates Disputes Among Groups/Depts

Disputes Among Groups or Departments

CDR Associates offers proven approaches to assessing and resolving a variety of conflicts between groups, departments, or teams, including:

Work teams that are struggling due to in-team conflict
Departments or other units that depend on each other but establish competing goals and/or use contrasting work styles
Employee/management groups grappling with the effects of downsizing and reorganization
Labor and management groups working toward more productive working relationships, within or outside the context of contract negotiations

CDR Associates' consultants help groups to define together what a productive relationship would look like, to identify barriers to attaining that relationship, and to make commitments to specific actions or changes that will help them to be successful. We help to build mutual understanding, respect, and accommodation of differences that will support the overall prosperity and well being of the organization.

Projects

Interest Based Negotiations Produce Landmark Teacher's Contract and Partnership for Student Achievement in Denver Public Schools

In June 2002 members of the bargaining teams for the Denver Public School (DPS) Administration and the Denver Classroom Teacher's Association (DCTA) celebrated the successful completion of three months of negotiations yielding their new contract and partnership. (Denver Public Schools has over 72,000 students, 4,500 teachers and a budget of over $500 million). A unique aspect of this agreement is that, unlike all previous agreements, it is recognized as more than a "teacher's" contract. Rather it is owned jointly by the administration, as much as by the teachers.

The contract evolved from a facilitated interest-based negotiation process and was guided by a mutual goal of sustaining the partnership for improving student achievement and closing the gap between better and poorer performing schools. The negotiations took place in the shadow of a contentious history of negotiations and a prior teacher's strike in 1994. It was a constant challenge for the negotiating team since the whole contract was up for re-negotiations.

Their new three year agreement provides for a 5.272% salary increase, for the 2002-2003 school year and a new annual benefits allowance using a cafeteria approach. Multiple changes to contract language were adopted including improvements to the grievance, teacher transfer and corrective action processes and clarification of expectations around the teacher work day and calendar year. DCTA president Becky Wissink said, "This is a contract that has the buy-in and ownership of both the DCTA and the administration of the school system. Both parties are committed to a collaborative bargaining process, and both are dedicated to the successful implementation of the contract." The negotiating team believes that this negotiation marks the most significant and substantive revision of the agreement since 1991 and they were honored to serve the Denver Public Schools community in this effort.

The Board of Education unanimously approved the contract and the DCTA membership approved it by a vote of 97%. 2/3rd's of the membership voted, which is the largest turnout in the Association's history.
For more information contact Judy Mares-Dixon.