Posts tagged Hartford Federation of Teachers
Federal lawsuit filed against Hartford Public Schools over privilege training
January 11, 2024 // “Over the last several years, the Superintendent, with the backing and approval of the Board, has instituted or enforced policies, procedures, and customs to advance critical race theory in Hartford Public Schools, and to force employees like Mr. Grande to acquiesce to that theory,” the complaint states. Grande was subsequently investigated by the school for the comments he made during the breakout session, with Director of Arts and Wellness for HPS Tracy Avicolli, who had facilitated the training, accusing him of “inappropriate and aggressive comments” and indicating that Grande was under investigation in an email sent to everyone who was part of the breakout session except him. Grande claims that the subsequent investigation, which was revealed to him months later, contained misrepresentations, false statements attributed to him and “coached” comments from two other participants.
Hartford teachers union denied arbitration in grievance case
June 13, 2023 // Grande contends that he did nothing wrong. In an op-ed published by the Hartford Courant, Grande says that following an online training about “Identity & Privilege,” he was assigned to a breakout room with several other teachers and asked to give his opinion. “So I gave it, honestly and professionally,” Grande wrote. “Apparently because I disagreed with the training’s implications, two teachers complained. Months later the administration informed me I was under investigation,” Grande wrote. Grande says he was issued a written reprimand and required to undergo further sensitivity training under threat of termination. Grande had been a HFT union member most of his career and says he helped negotiate contracts but resigned from the union in 2018.
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.
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,