Melissa Alexander

Dear Members of the House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee, I am writing to strongly oppose House Bill 1704 which would permit public employees—including education employees—to bargain individually with public employers without union representation or intervention. This bill is the latest attempt—following last year’s so-called “Right-to-Work” legislation—to weaken the collective voice of public employees. For educators, education support professionals, and other school-based staff, HB 1704 would mean less rights at work, not more. It would open the door to favoritism, discrimination, and unequal treatment among employees performing the same jobs in our schools and public institutions. Collective bargaining is especially critical in education, where fair pay, manageable workloads, safe learning environments, and adequate staffing directly impact student learning and well-being. Allowing individual bargaining grants special status to certain employees, undermines negotiated contracts, and weakens protections related to wages, benefits, safety, and professional respect. This approach is commonly used to divide workers and erode their ability to advocate collectively—something educators and school staff know all too well. Even more troubling is the selective nature of this legislation. By exempting police and fire unions, the bill openly acknowledges the importance of collective bargaining for some public employees while denying those same protections to educators and other public servants. This political carve-out exposes the bill for what it is: an attack on unions, not a sincere effort to improve workplace conditions. Education employees dedicate their careers to serving students and communities. They deserve respect, fairness, and a strong collective voice—not legislation designed to weaken their rights and divide the workforce. I urge you to reject HB 1704 and stand in support of collective bargaining for all public employees. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Melissa Alexander