What Has The WTU Done For RIF'ed Teachers Lately ?

I have received emails and calls, too numerous to mention about a recent WTU mailing citing all that the Washington Teachers' union under the helm of George Parker has done for teachers lately. Do tell. While I have not personally received this mailing as I guess my name may have been dropped from the WTU mailing list again, it troubles me to hear that our union members who are in need of support the most..... somehow always get left hanging. Recently I heard from several laid off colleagues who have said in so many words....they are up to here with Parker's public relations campaign of lies, distortions and half-truths. Today Crystal Proctor, laid off DC social studies teacher reported that she initiated an email to Mr. Parker, about her concerns about the WTU's false claims of support to DC's RIF'ed teachers. Sheila Gill, WTU Executive Board member and laid off school counselor is in support of Proctor's email and has written an email to advise other laid off teacher colleagues to write President Parker challenging his false claims of support. Willie Brewer, WTU Executive Board member and now RIF'ed teacher has signed on to Proctor's email as well. After all they say they are disgusted and enough is enough. Here's why this fighting trio for RIF'ed teachers and school staff are demanding answers from the Wash. Teachers' Union. My only hope is that they can get finally get an answer from our union prez' to their legitimate concerns. Here's their email:

January 6, 2010

Dear George,

There was a recent mailing sent out to teacher union members that outlined all that you have done for wrongfully terminated teachers. In this mailing you give an inaccurate impression that you are helping teachers who have been unfairly laid off in November 2009. We are troubled that we have not received a phone call or any correspondence from the Washington Teachers' Union in weeks. In your recent mailing, you indicate that there is a full time WTU staff person assigned to assist laid-off teachers. We would like to be made aware of who the WTU staff person assigned to laid off teachers because we have not been provided this information, to date. Additionally, what will the assigned staff person's responsibilities include?

Secondly, we would like to be apprised of what type of legal assistance will be provided to laid off teachers with their Office of Employee Appeals hearings? At our last meeting with RIFe'd teachers you indicated that the union did not have the money to provide legal assistance. While we know that Johnnie Landon gave legal advice to laid off teachers, it was concerning that he admitted that he is not a member of the DC bar. We can only hope that this meeting with him would not substitute for legal advice. If there are types of legal assistance that the Washington Teachers' Union is willing to provide, then please provide that information to us in a timely manner. To date, a number of teachers who have been laid off have received their responses from DCPS regarding their Office of Employee Appeals and are in the process of preparing for their hearings. We desperately are in need of financial assistance to pay for legal services to handle our Office of Employee Appeals hearings.

Signed,

Crystal Proctor

Sheila Gill

Willie Brewer

Posted by The Washington Teacher, featuring Candi Peterson, blogger in residence