Union Victory!
Judge sides with teachers on unfair labor practices by SDUSD in Dec. ruling; orders retraction
When the former principals of Bethune K-8 and Toler Elementary infringed on the rights of Association Reps standing up for health and safety rights, attorneys for SDEA had the teachers’ backs. Union attorneys filed charges alleging unfair labor practices by SDUSD. After a two-day hearing in which the teachers testified and told their stories, in a powerful and unequivocal ruling by the judge in Dec., it was found that SDUSD broke the law by engaging in unfair labor practices. The judge ordered SDUSD to send an email rescinding the illegal directives it gave to union members that infringed on our rights to be active, informed union members. It was an all-around victory for union members.
SDUSD issues retraction, but SDUSD mucks it up
Pursuant to the judge’s order, SDUSD rescinded the illegal directives in an email to employees from HR on Jan. 10. But in the email ordered by the judge, SDUSD linked to an Administrative Circular that further misinformed about union rights, undermined the judge’s order, and attempted to tamp down on union activities as union contract bargaining heats up.
SDUSD must issue yet another retraction
SDEA Association Rep Vivian Griffin of Freese Elementary and an attorney for SDEA went to bat for union activism rights again on Fri., Jan. 27. Facing growing legal pressure, in an Unfair Labor Practice and Grievance Settlement Agreement signed Friday, SDUSD agreed to issue a retraction of the new Circular by Feb. 16. At the end of the hearing, Vivian Griffin said, “I want everyone to know that we can stand up for our rights.”
What should you know now?
Our rights to be active union members are important because being active union members is how we organize for what’s right for students, our schools, and our profession. Our union rights are innumerable, but they include:
- The right to have a union meeting once per month on work time so long as it doesn’t interfere with instruction or supervisor (Contract section 5.6.2)
- The right to make union announcements after the close of staff meetings (Contract section 5.13)
- The right to engage in union discussions and activities on work time at the level at which we can engage in other non-work-related matters on work time
- The right of site union reps to be equals to the boss when they are acting in the role of union rep
Now you can spread the word!
