Teachers’ union files labor charges over Central Falls firings

[FBaggins]

PROVIDENCE—A teachers’ union has filed a state labor complaint over a school board’s plan to turn around one of Rhode Island’s worst-performing high schools by firing the entire faculty.

The Central Falls Teachers’ Union filed the complaint Monday with the state Labor Relations Board, saying the firings are unfair. It accuses the school district of failing to bargain and not providing the teachers with information they requested on programming, professional development and other topics.

“We need to preserve the rights of the teachers at the high school,“ said Marcia Reback, president of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, which includes the Central Falls union. “We’re very concerned about the jobs of the teachers.

...snip...

Reback said the district has failed to prove that the Central Falls teachers are incompetent or have done anything egregious. She said the high school teachers are overburdened by what she said was poor math education in the city’s elementary and middle schools.



More at the link below, but these four paragraphs are the only part that isn't "filler" (already-reported content).



http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/news/local/education/article/teachers_union_files_labor_charges_over_central_falls_firings/32333/

[mitchtv]

1. Let the "Democratic" attack on teachers and Unions begin

four- three- two- one...

[FBaggins]

3. How about the "teacher attack on teachers"

How else do you read "She said the high school teachers are overburdened by what she said was poor math education in the city’s elementary and middle schools." ??

[Starry Messenger]

9. Hiya Mitch!

So nice to see you. :hug:

[mitchtv]

16. hey, Likewise

not so interesting here these days

[Fire1]

2. I agree with Reback but it doesn't do any good to start

pointing fingers at other teachers. Stand united or not at all.

[roguevalley]

4. this happens in the early grades. by high school, you get what you

get. I taught elementary for 27 years first through sixth and if they don't get a solid fundamental foundation its just about over by fifth grade for too many.

[Fire1]

7. Yes, it happens but I'm not about to blame the elementary

teachers! Too many variables here to put the blame on teachers. How about we look at the parents for a change, their value of education (or the lack thereof) and what's happening and NOT happening in the home! Start THERE!

[roguevalley]

18. you will find agreement with me. I taught elementary for 27 years

and I know in the first three years success or failure is made for too many.

[madrchsod]

5. duncan- obama shining example of union busting

throw the teachers under the bus so duncan-obama can get their perfect charter schools in central falls...

i`m so glad my kids are out of school...

[mzteris]

6. union contract

http://www.ntlongcber.com/cber/docs/_CF.htm

Be interested in feedback from those who read through it.

[soleiri]

8. It's about 100 pages

What aspect of the contract would you like feedback?

[mzteris]

10. just wondering what people make of it

comparing the contract with the dispute, etc...

[soleiri]

11. In what respect, Charlie?

(yay! a reason to use that!)

I saw another thread where you posted the same link,
so I was wondering,
(because comparing a 100 page document with another document would be time consuming)
if there was a specific area that I should look at.

[mzteris]

12. I don't have a union background

I've never been in one so I only have theoretical knowledge.

What I'm wondering is, how does how this contract is written affect the complaints coming from pro-union people that the contract was violated? I don't see it but I could be missing something.

[Hannah Bell]

13. you always miss something.

[radical noodle]

15. I skimmed the contract

The contract seems to directly contradict the notion that the school system could not "get rid of" bad teachers. There's clear written direction about the steps to take in that case (specifically Section 7). If some there were bad teachers, why wasn't this method used? If bad teachers are the problem with the school, then the administrators and board should have dealt with it in accordance with the contract. It seems there were no bad teachers or the administration and board were too lazy to do their job.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

14. In all likelyhood, the state/federal laws trump labor board authority

whether we like it or not.

[Hannah Bell]

17. post 15.

& the requirements you speak of are part of the new requirements for title 1 school improvement grants, which are themselves just a subset of all title 1 grant money. the school didn't have to apply for this portion of title 1 funding. it chose to.

the "four requirements" for "failing" schools aren't a general federal requirement.

duncan added this new requirement to the grant application because not enough districts were destroying their schools fast enough.

and, regardless, firing the teachers is not the only choice under the grant requirements; it's the one gallo & gist chose.

[FBaggins]

19. No... It's the option the union chose.

EVERY other case in the news recently has been one or more schools being closed and/or changed to charters. This was the only example I've seen where the teachers were even given an option of keeping their jobs. They (really their union with little/no input from rank and file members) elected to fight for a better deal.

[LWolf]

20. Let's hope the charges stick. nt