By AP
Nashville, TN – Tennessee school districts would no longer have to engage in negotiations with teachers' unions under a bill introduced by House Republican Caucus Chairwoman Debra Maggart. Tennessee Education Association lobbyist Jerry Winters is calling the proposal to do away with collective bargaining "an insult to every teacher in the state." Maggart says her bill would provide for more flexibility as the state works to improve education standards. She says none of Tennessee's neighboring states require collective bargaining with teachers, and noted that other public employees like police officers and firefighters don't have the same negotiating rights as teachers.