Teacher Bargaining Bill Defeated in Topeka

AP) – A bill that would have forced a re-negotiation of all teacher salaries at the end of their current term was defeated in the Senate.
The Senate voted 13-27 to reject the bill Wednesday. It would have also eliminated the current teacher pay scale by narrowing salary talks between school boards and teachers unions to minimum salary.
Republican Sen. Jeff Melcher from Leawood inserted the changes into the bill and said they would help school reward good teachers and fire underperformers.
But, opponents said the bill would undercut the competitiveness of teachers’ positions by reducing job security and base salary.
Across the rotunda, the House passed a bill that would allow state agencies to deny civil service benefits and protections to new hires and employees changing positions.