Name:David O. Dickson

Background:

The Superintendent is from northwest Indiana, and is the former Superintendent in Hobart, Indiana, and a former teacher in Gary Indiana - was a union member and building representative in Gary.

Tenure: 14 years

Management team:

The Superintendent has a cabinet composed of Assistant Superintendents for Personnel, Curriculum, Finance, Pupil Personnel, and Leadership. Also, the Labor Relations Counsel is a member. The President of the Union meets with the cabinet on a regular basis, and also brings teachers to the meetings. The purpose of the cabinet is to problem solve, and identify professional concerns.

Other employee unions(Name, approximate unit membership, relationship to teachers)

Hammond has approximately 17 unions representing workers in the district. Teamsters represent truck drivers and bus drivers, steel workers represent the custodial force, AFL-CIO Skilled Trades unions represent various trades, the Secretaries are represented by an unaffiliated local union and the Paraprofessionals are unorganized.

The HTF meets once per year with the other district unions. The Unions discuss their priorities for the year. Annually, none of the unions settle salary until the HTF does. The unions coordinate bargaining. The unions also collaborate on political activity including school board and Indiana general assembly.

Status of contract: (Attachment 1)

Expiration of current agreement:2001 (December 31)

Agency fee: Yes

Binding arbitration:

Yes - The Union arbitrates approximately one grievance per year. Most of the arbitrations are over dismissal.

Approximate number of grievances per year:

Approximately 3-4 grievances a year. The union successfully solves hundreds of problems per year, without the need to file a grievance

Strikes:No strikes in the recent past - there was a strike in 1970.

Unfair labor practices:

A ULP was filed against both the Union and the Board for collaboration in the denial of a sabbatical. The Union and District prevailed. A group of school nurses has recently filed a ULP against the Union for failure to represent. These personnel are not in the bargaining unit, so the ULP cannot be successful, as only bargaining unit members can allege failure to represent.

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