1. Labor Relations 101: Case Study: Sweetwater Union High School District
How Purposeful Collaboration Works for Each Student

2. Sweetwater Union High School District
Largest Secondary District in California
Roughly 4000 employees
8 collective employee groups/6 Collective Bargaining Agreements
3 CSEA Chapters
1 NAGE/SEIU Chapter
2 CTA Chapters (Counselors, Teachers/Nurse)
Confidential Employees
Management Association

3. Who Are We: Presenters
Karen Janney, Ed.D.: Superintendent, Sweetwater Union High School District
Troy Johnson: CSEA President (Office Technical Business Services Unit)
Roberto Rodriguez: CTA Past President (Sweetwater Education Association); Current CTA Board Member
Jennifer Carbuccia: General Counsel/Chief Negotiator, Sweetwater Union High School District
Cynthia McDaniel: CSEA Labor Representative

4. Recovering from Our Past Dysfunction
Animosity/Hostility
Lack of Trust
Fear of Job Loss
No Voice
Union Standard Position: Be Ready to Fight!
District’s Perceived Position: No, because I can

5. Current Efforts - Transition
New Board, New Era
New Superintendent
Additions to Leadership Team
Mentality Shift

6. Current Efforts - Transition
Mentality Shift
Reached out to Unions
Voice – Welcoming Input
Transparency In Decisions
Recognize the Costs of the Fight
Settling grievances
- Communications of WHY on decisions

7. Current Efforts - Transition
Participate in California Labor Management Collaborative
All union presidents, board members, superintendent and labor relations
First opportunity to be in one place having hard conversations about past hurts, current interests and needs
Settling grievances
- Communications of WHY on decisions

8. Current Efforts
Monthly meetings between Superintendent and each Union president
Communications meeting with the Union leadership team and Labor Relations are held as needed to discuss ongoing issues.
Biweekly meeting between all Union Presidents and all of Cabinet to review upcoming Board Meeting Agenda prior to publication
Monthly meeting between all Union Presidents and all of Cabinet to Purposefully Collaborate together to strength our relationship

9. Current Efforts – Purposeful Collaboration In Practice
Purposeful Collaboration/Open Letter to all stake holders
Collaboratively develop projects focusing on working together
Four Focus Groups
Community Service Project
Onboarding/Employee Orientation
Employee Culture and Climate Survey
Employee Appreciate Efforts – Sweetwater Stars

10. Current Efforts – Purposeful Collaboration In Practice
Impacts at bargaining table
Vocalization of interest for contract proposals
Involvement at the front in in planning and development
Meetings with union leadership in all aspects of the planning process
Prior to full implementation “bargaining” obligations are fulfilled.

11. Looking to the Future
Strengthen the change in culture beyond the leadership teams
Train educate and demonstrate on cultural change and the benefits to our educational mission.
More examples at all levels of working together

12. Suggestions Sincerity – Audio/Words must match Video/Actions –
Superintendent, School Board and district leadership team must believe
Commitment – not always a quick process, there can be multiple winners
Grievances – a process to solve problems and disputes
Collaboration doesn’t mean agreement
Ensuring an environment free from fear of exercising their voice/opinion individually
Sustainability – Stakeholders must trust in the process

13. Questions?