Updated Message!
Affected teachers and other DCPS employees can retain the law firm of
Joseph, Greenwald and Laake, P.A.
to file for a temporary retraining order against their pending termination
from DCPS due to an alleged RIF
Three hundred eighty-eight (388) affected DCPS teachers and other employees will no longer be employees of DCPS as of November 2, 2009. Unbeknownst to teachers, the legal filings of their representative, the Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU), did not request a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO). WTU President, George Parker reported that a preliminary injunction has been scheduled for November 5, 2009 at our most recent Thursday, WTU executive board meeting on October 22. Also see DC Wire link on the WTU amended lawsuit: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2009/10/wtu_amends_suit_district_holds.html
The purpose of seeking legal representation is to attempt to obtain a TRO. The WTU’s court case filed promises a hearing after the affected teachers’ date of termination in 2010. This strategy ensures one fact: teachers and other DCPS employees will be fired effective November 2, 2009 and will be fighting to get their jobs back. Some legal experts consider “fighting from the bottom” a disadvantage in this type of case as courts often are more reluctant to reinstate individuals than to provide them legal relief if they are still in their positions.
Nathan Saunders, WTU General Vice President, Candi Peterson, Blogger in residence at The Washington Teacher and rank and file union members make no statements concerning the WTU’s actions other than the facts herein. Approximately sixty affected teachers and other affected employees had an exhaustive meeting with Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, P.A. to discuss legal options this past week. It is paramount that affected employees assist in the success of this endeavor by ensuring maximum participation of affected employees. Time is of essence, as failure to participate and not enough preparation time ensures that nothing will happen.
Interested parties are encouraged to visit the website of the law firm to explore its history, experience and activities particularly in employment law at jgllaw.com. Should you need to discuss this matter further, please contact Nathan Saunders on 202-213-7081 or Candi Peterson at 301-613-6092. You may also email me c/o saveourcounselors@gmail.com with your name and telephone contact information if you are desirous of getting additional information. This TRO is available to other RIF'd employees. Feel free to spread the word.
Posted by the Washington Teacher featuring Candi Peterson, blogger in residence
8 comments:
I attended the meeting on Wednesday night with the law firm in greenbelt and know that the only chance I have for saving my job is to get on board with them. I hate to admit that I do not have money tucked away for emergencies such as this although my grandmother always told me days like this would come.
So, my plan is to forgo one half of my mortgage payment this month and pay 20% less on each of my bills. I have called my creditors to let them know what happened to my job. (Believe me, they want me to keep my job too). My last ditch effort is to pawn two items which will buy me some time to get it back--month by month.
I would've appreciated the WTU amending the lawsuit to get in to court before I am terminated. But that is not happening. What are they thinking??????
I am on board with the law firm. My money will be at their office on Monday!
To all my other RIF colleagues:
It is time to S### or get off the pot! Don't act and you get what you get!
Peace!
I had to pawn my laptop to help get the additional monies I needed for the reasonable retainer fee. I am on my way to the law firm because it is so worth the risk for me to get back to my students. I want to fight before my job is gone.
Bless you and Nathan for arranging this.
Get ready, set, and go to the law offices. If you don't want to be fired November 2nd then don't wait on the WTU. The WTU hearing is on November 5th. What is GP doing or does he even care? I am gonna be front and center at the DC Council hearing this Thursday in the wee hours of the morning when Rhee flies in on her broom.
Good job and hope this firm makes a difference.
Candi, why don't you list the address of the law firm and perhaps people can send donations to the firm to assist in defraying the cost?
I can't donate much, but at least I have a job and can donate $50.00.
I was "forced" to retire in June 2008 as a result of continued harassment by the principal. Three other teachers who supported my EEOC claim faced retaliatory actions SY 2008-2009 and were placed on 90 plans 6 weeks into that next school year. All had received at least meets expectations in June 2008, before their affidavites were filed. Are we eligible to be represented by this law firm?
@nomojb, please get the teachers who were retaliated against to file EEOC complaints for DCPS actions toward them. That way, if they are 'evaluated' out they will have a leg to stand on. THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!
As a former principal in DCPS who is part of the class action lawsuit against DC government and rhee, I can tell you that many of us were targets as well. We didn't cheat on the test. We didn't target the more senior teachers. We didn't tweak our school safety reports. We didn't do spy and snitch missions for rhee. We didn't -- and DON'T -- support fenty.
Until everyone stands up for their rights and FLOODS the federal government with complaints, fenty the fool will continue to empower his minions and imps. I look at it this way: they don't have a plan and are running scared. FORCE THEM OFF OF THE ISLAND!!
I think everyone should start informing Michael Moore at www.michaelmoore.com. He will look into it. Fenty and his people need to be exposed for once and for all. We have to stop wondering when it will happen to us and prepare and fortify so that it won't.
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