Bargaining Watch: The Risks of Subcontracting

On a Wednesday afternoon in mid-June, NSEA members gathered in Gering for a STRONG Summer Conference. A roundtable on collective bargaining soon shifted to a growing concern: subcontracting.

Members talked about substitute teachers, paraprofessionals and other positions districts have turned or could turn over to private companies. While subcontracting is often presented as a solution to staffing shortages or budget pressures, members were asking different questions: What protections do employees have? What does it actually save? And what could it mean for students? 

A Growing Issue
NSEA members in metro and rural districts are increasingly monitoring subcontracting proposals. NSEA Director of Advocacy Jason Wiese said subcontracted workers often lack the same benefits and protections as district employees, including access to the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems and workplace protections available through NSEA.

“Subcontracting can look like a simple solution on paper, but local associations need to look beyond the initial price tag. The real question is what a district may be giving up in return, from experienced employees and workplace protections to accountability and continuity for students.”

Cost savings may also be short-lived, as education associations across the country have found that contractors may offer lower initial rates to secure agreements, then increase those rates when contracts are renewed.

What’s at Stake
Wiese has also found that subcontracting can blur accountability. While districts remain responsible for students and families, personnel decisions may shift to a private company, requiring concerns to be resolved through a contractor rather than directly with employees.

For students, subcontracting can affect the consistency of instruction and support they receive. In some cases, staffing shortages may be addressed through virtual instruction or outside providers rather than a district-employed educator in the classroom.

Longtime school employees build relationships with students and families, understand the needs of their schools and carry valuable institutional knowledge from year to year. Frequent staffing changes can disrupt those connections and make it harder to provide consistent support. Many school employees also live in the communities they serve as neighbors, taxpayers and parents. 

Nebraska is not alone. Education associations in states including New Jersey, Illinois and Pennsylvania have challenged outsourcing proposals by focusing on educational quality, accountability, employee retention and student learning.

What to Watch For
Watch school board agendas, budget discussions and staffing proposals for signs that outside contractors are being considered. Early awareness matters. If you learn or suspect subcontracting is being considered in your district, contact your NSEA organizational specialist as soon as possible or call NSEA at 800-742-0047. NSEA can help assess the proposal, identify potential impacts and determine next steps.