Maximizing the Impact of Unions and Education Associations

Working for Change: A Guide for Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists in Schools

To ensure that decisions align with your interests, you must actively participate in your union or education association and in the decision-making processes at the other levels. Here are steps you can take to influence the decision-making process:

1. Identify who is responsible for deciding on a particular issue or concern and understand how those individuals make these decisions. Knowing these facts is crucial. Achieving results that impact audiologists and SLPs depends on your ability to influence decision makers. Sometimes, the administration unilaterally makes decisions. Examples include matters involving 
• service delivery,
• in-service programs,
• facilities and equipment, and
• special projects.

2. Audiologists or SLPs should use strategies such as:
   • Informing the administration that the request is legal.
   • Ensuring that the request adheres to your state and ASHA codes of ethics.
   • Highlighting the benefits to the school and/or student achievement.
   • Educating the administrator on the mutual benefits for (a) the audiologist or SLP and (b) the administration.

To achieve results that impact audiologists and SLPs, it’s important to influence decision makers. You need to know who they are and how they make decisions. In some cases administrators make decisions around service delivery, programs, equipment, and special projects. When this occurs, it's important to demonstrate that your requests are legal, ethical, beneficial to the school, and the students you serve.

Audiologists and SLPs should explain to administrators that requests related to audiology and speech-language pathology actually benefit everyone. Matters then are negotiated between the union, association and/or the school administration include but may not be limited to: 

• adequate workspace and safety
• benefits
• caseloads
• extra duties
• job descriptions
• leave time
• planning time
• salaries

If you have concerns, bring them to your union or association’s negotiation team—or, if no active negotiation team is in place, to the school administration leadership team.

The Importance of Being Involved in Decisions

Your professional relationships with colleagues and key decision makers will determine your influence. Audiologists and SLPs are often a small population in schools, so it’s important that you know and share interests with other related service providers and professionals in your school. Use the union/association newsletter and meetings to get your issues on the agenda and to raise awareness about them. Success depends on how many people support your position.

Key Questions in Determining Your Union or Education Association Status

The answers to these key questions will help you determine the level of understanding and acknowledgment of your profession within the union.

• Are audiologists and SLPs part of the local union or education association?
• Are audiologists and SLPs represented by the employee bargaining agent at both the building/site and district/central office levels?
• Are you active in the union/association?
• Do you and your colleagues form coalitions to increase your influence?
• Do you hold regularly scheduled meetings to clarify your needs and communicate them to the bargaining agent?
• Does the bargaining agent represent audiologists and SLPs at all levels?

Most state laws cover all public employees, including teachers—and this includes licensed or certified audiologists and SLPs. However, many laws actually exclude those individuals who serve as administrators, supervisors, and (sometimes) specialized instructional support personnel. 

To find out if you’re covered by the collective bargaining process, refer to your state’s law or talk to your local union or education association leader.