6:45AM Wednesday
March 20, 2013

BOISE, Idaho (AP) A school board-backed plan to require unions representing teachers during contract talks to show they represent a majority of their district's educators is headed for a Senate vote. The bill pushed by the Idaho School Board Education could require local teachers unions to annually show they represent 50 percent of teachers, plus one more, to earn a seat at the bargaining table. The Senate Education Committee approved the proposal Tuesday, sending it to the Senate floor. ISBA Executive Director Karen Echeverria said school boards would have a choice not an obligation to impose the majority representation requirement. Idaho Education Association Public Policy Director Bert Marley said his group generally supports the idea, but says asking the union to meet the membership threshold yearly is an unnecessary burden.