Teachers step up pressure on contract concessions (Anne Arundel County)

[struggle4progress]

Starting Monday, county teachers will halt all participation in extracurricular activities in the first of several steps aimed at pressuring Superintendent Eric J. Smith and the school board to make contract concessions.

More picketing, a union probe into Dr. Smith's leadership and a reverse job fair to help teachers get hired by other school districts will follow, union members vowed at a meeting of 500 teachers held last night.

This morning, Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County President Sheila Finlayson said teachers will take a no-confidence vote on Dr. Smith in May or June. While Dr. Smith doesn't formally participate in negotiations, she said he has inserted himself into the debate.

"He's taking credit for it, so he becomes our target," Ms. Finlayson told reporters this morning at union headquarters outside Annapolis. <snip>

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2005/04_15-40/TOP