Posts tagged teacher
A California Teacher Was Denied a Union Board Seat Because of His Race. He Fought Back — and Won
November 4, 2024 // In October, the long-time history teacher ran for a Racial Equity At Large board position newly created by the union to replace the one that barred white candidates. This time the position has no overt racial stipulations. He received about 21 percent of the vote while his opponent received a little more than 78 percent. “I can quit the union in frustration, but that’s what everyone else has done,” he said. “Most people who would agree with me have left the union and that means most voters who would agree with me are gone.”
Rhode Island School District Settles Suit With Teacher Denied Tenure After Leaving Union
October 3, 2024 // Although Lancellotta received "highly effective" ratings in his most recent evaluations, the district did not renew his contract, a move that effectively terminated his employment. This decision appeared to be driven by his resignation from the union. An appeal to the school board revealed that school officials had based their decision to terminate solely on the recommendation of Lancellotta’s department head, a union committee member. The appeal also uncovered troubling collaboration between the school’s attorneys and the union’s legal team.
Ca. Teacher Wins Lawsuit, Ends Union’s Racially Segregated Leadership Position
September 12, 2024 // “I’m delighted that my lawsuit forced union officials to admit something every high school student knows: Racial segregation is wrong,” said Newman, who teaches history at Elk Grove Unified School District in suburban Sacramento. “I hope this victory returns union officials’ focus to representing all teachers, rather than dividing us based on race. I plan to donate every penny I receive from the union to a local scholarship fund for Elk Grove students.”
Union members aren’t just voting on labor this year
August 27, 2024 // She believes Harris can deliver for her and fellow union members, calling the Democratic nominee a “breath of fresh air” for whom she’s canvassing alongside UNITE HERE colleagues. Gangwer, meanwhile, said he has struggled to grapple with recent inflation. He pushed off “must-do’s” on his home, like a partial roof replacement, because it’s too expensive. His co-workers have become more willing to vote for Republicans in recent years, he said, citing the party’s commitments to cut taxes and an emphasis on law and order.
4 reasons why labor unions love Tim Walz
August 8, 2024 // The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers noted that Walz, a former teacher, understands the struggles of working people. The AFL-CIO hailed the governor as a principled fighter and labor champion. The Service Employees International Union pointed to what it called "the Minnesota Miracle," a sweeping package of pro-worker laws passed by the state's Democratic legislature last year and signed into law by Walz.
CTU president suggests new teacher contract could cost taxpayers $50 billion
March 7, 2024 // The Chicago Teachers Union is preparing for collective bargaining talks with the city, and the union's president suggested the new terms would cost taxpayers $50 billion. “We are asking you to give us an opportunity to tell our story. It will cost $50 billion, and three cent,” CTU President Stacy Davis Gates said Tuesday at the City Club of Chicago this week, setting the stage for upcoming negotiations with the city. "And so what? That's audacity."
Illinois school official sounds alarm over personnel shortage as school begins
August 22, 2023 // The Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools conducted an Educator Shortage study and found that 76% of school districts reported problems with staffing shortages. “At first it was a teacher shortage. Then there was a teacher shortage crisis. Then it was a teacher shortage catastrophe, and it just escalates,” IARSS President Mark Klaisner said. Klaisner said some downstate districts are trying to come up with ways to open their schools despite a lack of educators.
How Public Employees Learned to Stop Worrying and Love to Strike
August 22, 2023 // The issues in all these cases aren’t the same and dynamics are different between government and the private sector. Government strikes are illegal in 39 states and there are a bunch of hoops — arbitration, mediation, fact-finding — that are mandated prior to strikes even in some states where strikes are legal.
How unions and employers dodge accountability
June 26, 2023 // As it turns out, her collective bargaining agreement—with wording agreed to by both the school district and the union—allows the superintendent to make decisions “for the good of the district.” This broad language essentially allows the school to transfer the teacher as they wish and erases any recourse she has if she believes there are questionable motives behind it all. Because neither the school board nor union would address her concerns, this teacher has had to turn to her community for assistance. She is asking people such as former students to contact the superintendent/school board to make the case that she should stay in her position. No teacher represented by a union should find themselves caught in between and left without representation. With two parties in negotiations, there’s always someone else to blame. And this story serves as a reminder as to why both employers and unions often support collective bargaining for reasons that can hurt employees.
Sterling Bay seeks $300M from Chicago teachers fund to kickstart Lincoln Yards
June 14, 2023 // If CTFP ultimately becomes the primary financial partner, it would be a surprising collaboration, given that the Chicago Teachers Union, whose members have been among the most vocal opponents of Lincoln Yards, has a lot of influence over CTPF. In Gloor’s pitch, he said, “It’s an unbelievable, generational opportunity to invest in the city” and called it “the most important deal we’ve ever done with Sterling Bay,” the outlet reported.