Posts tagged Fairness Center
Op-Ed: John Grande: Hartford Federation of Teachers shirked its duty to represent me
February 23, 2023 // This skewed process is one reason why unions exist. I should know—I was a member of the Hartford Federation of Teachers (HFT) for 29 years, a building representative for five years, and helped negotiate two teacher contracts. I always stood up for my colleagues when administrators treated them unfairly. Though I resigned from the union in 2018, teachers still call me when they need advice. I knew that I could effectively defend myself in front of an unbiased third party during arbitration. But only the union can start the arbitration process. That’s when the surprise came: HFT’s vice president emailed me saying that because I was no longer a dues-paying member, the union would not initiate arbitration. Over 30 years of teaching service. Thousands of dollars in dues payments. A union appreciation plaque for being part of a team that negotiated Hartford teachers’ last good contract. None of this swayed union officials whose representation I, by law, must accept.
Union Refuses To Aid Teacher Who Faced Termination for Criticism of Woke Training
August 15, 2022 // A Connecticut gym teacher says his school threatened to fire him after he criticized its mandatory diversity training on "exploring privilege." But when he filed a grievance against the school, the local teachers' union dismissed the complaint without explanation. John Grande filed the grievance against Hartford Public Schools for what he called targeted discipline—including threats of termination and further "Sensitivity Awareness" training—but the American Federation of Teachers Local 1018, which has jurisdiction over this arbitration process for teachers, rejected his plea, his attorney told the Washington Free Beacon. Grande, who has been a gym teacher for 30 years, said the union retaliated against him for refusing to join the labor group. The training included an activity for teachers to split into groups and discuss their privilege in eight categories: class, ability, race, gender/sex, sexuality, nationality/citizenship, religion, and "other." Hartford Board of Education,
Hartford teacher files complaint over union representation
August 5, 2022 // According to the complaint filed by John Grande, “The Union breached its duty of fair representation when it refused to arbitrate a grievance on Complainant’s behalf due to the fact that he was not a member of the Union. Specifically, the Union’s First Vice President Corey Moses told Complainant that arbitration is reserved only for members of the Union.” The complaint alleges that HFT is violating state statute by not equally representing all members of the bargaining unit equally and that the union “committed a prohibited practice” by attempting to coerce membership through withholding services. Grande recently settled in federal court over a libel case in which he claimed a Hartford school principal defamed him by accusing him of threatening behavior. The case stemmed from Grande wearing headphones to block out noise because of his tinnitus. Hartford Board of Education,
A Persistent Cook Serves Up a Winning Recipe for the First Amendment
July 19, 2022 // An unexpected champion of the First Amendment against public-sector unions may inspire other Janus-curious government workers. Tina Curtis, the lead cook for the New Haven, Conn., Board of Education, may not have figured herself to be a First Amendment warrior. But by prevailing over her government-union bosses in what may prove to be an important Janus-rights case, she has shown herself to be exactly that. Curtis v. Hotel & Restaurant Employees & Bartenders Union, Local 217, AFL-CIO,
Lawsuit alleges New Haven union violated school cafeteria cook’s right to stop paying dues
June 8, 2022 // A lawsuit filed in federal court alleges that UNITE HERE union officials in New Haven did not allow a New Haven Board of Education (BOE) employee to resign her union membership in accordance with the 2018 Supreme Court ruling in Janus v. AFSCME, which said public sector employees could not be required to pay dues or fees to a union as a condition of employment. Marc E. Fitch, Connecticut Inside Investigator, Opt Out Window, Senate Bill 908, Danielle Susanj,
For Whom Does the Union Speak?
May 24, 2022 //
Opinion: Why I put my job in the Allentown Symphony on the line to not pay union dues
May 20, 2022 // The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that public-sector employees can’t be forced to pay a union as a condition of employment. I’m relying on that precedent, and representation from the Fairness Center, a nonprofit law firm, to defend my rights against those who would misuse their power and deny them.
In a case that could be destined for the Supreme Court, Allentown Symphony musician says he shouldn’t have to pay union dues to perform
April 15, 2022 // “Our client’s goal is to make sure that Janus is expanded to all of the bargaining units that are covered by the Supreme Court decision,” said Nathan McGrath, president of The Fairness Center, a public interest legal group that represents those who object to mandatory public-sector union membership.