Columbia Teachers Union Suing Columbia Public Schools

A Columbia teachers union is filing a lawsuit in Boone County against Columbia Public Schools accusing the district of violating teachers’ constitutional rights during contract negotiations.

The Columbia Missouri National Education Association is a public union representing over 1000 public education workers that work in Columbia.

The lawsuit alleges Columbia Public Schools requirement that the union go through a state certification to collectively bargain for teachers is impossible to legally satisfy.

A new state law enacted last year (2018) requires public labor unions to go through a certification election with the State Board of Mediation.

A St. Louis County judge, has put a temporary hold on the requirement after several lawsuits over constitutional concerns.

Columbia Public Schools says they want the union to obtain certification by July 1st, as required by law, or else it will not negotiate with the union anymore.