© Candi Peterson, 2016
Feb 3, 2016
Coming Soon To A School Near You: DC Mayor Announces Extended School Year
© Candi Peterson, 2016
Jan 28, 2016
DC Public Schools Imposes Longer School Year in Some Schools Without Stakeholders' Input
Statements or expressions of opinions herein 'do not' represent the views or official positions of DCPS, AFT, Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) or its members. Views are my own.
It seems like DCPS is forging ahead with the extension of the school year for the 2016-17 school year for some of the District’s lowest performing schools. According to inside sources, some Ward 7 and 8 junior high schools will be on the list to be converted to a longer school year including Hart Middle School and Johnson Middle School in SE as well as Kelly Miller Middle School located in NE. Randle Highlands Elementary School in SE has also been confirmed by inside sources.
2/2/16 Update: Other low performing schools (known as (40/40 schools) will likely be affected, however, exact numbers have yet to be confirmed. I anticipate that Chancellor Henderson will likely be making an official announcement sometime soon.
It disappoints me that as an education stakeholder, I am learning of the news in this way. I searched the DCPS website to see if there were any updates on the proposed extended school year news. Nary a word. Needless to say, I am not shocked or surprised.
Raymond Education campus became part of a DCPS pilot where the school year was extended beginning with the 2015-16 school year. Teachers who worked at Raymond were given the option to get a placement at other schools if they did not want to work the longer school year at Raymond. The Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) filed a grievance regarding the unilateral extension of Raymond’s school year without bargaining with WTU as sole and exclusive bargaining representative for teachers.
Extending the school day and school year have been high on Chancellor Henderson’s list of top priorities for some time now. Over the last couple of years, some of the lower performing elementary schools have extended the school day by an hour.
There has been widespread disagreement over union contract language on how extending the school day and year can be accomplished. DCPS and WTU do not agree and have argued whether the non traditional scheduling clause in the WTU contract allows elected teachers (members of a school advisory committee) to vote on a proposal to extend the school day with a 66 2/3 % majority vote. On the other hand, WTU argues that it is the sole bargaining representative for all matters related to pay, wages, benefits, hours of employment and working conditions for teachers. It remains to be seen how this matter will be resolved through the grievance and arbitration process.
Obviously, there are pros and cons to the debate on whether public schools should extend the school day/school year. Even President Obama and former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan have weighed in on what’s good for other peoples’ kids. – especially America’s poorest.
The point that must be made is that our public school system is set up to serve the public. Not just the administrators, not just the students, not just the parents and community, not just the teachers and staff, not just the politicians and unions but all of the public. All of us benefit from a great public school system where all of the education stakeholders get a say in what happens in our schools.
Taking the approach to unilaterally impose a longer school year and school day in this top-down management style is no way for DCPS to run a school district and retain good teachers/staff and families. Remember the exodus of families/students under the Michelle Rhee administration when parents were disengaged in the process to close schools and modify elementary and middle schools into a K-8 model?
Haven’t they (DCPS) learned from past mistakes this is no way to run our schools? Many stakeholders I know are asking questions whether these decisions can be unilaterally imposed by DCPS ? Was the WTU and other unions notified prior to these decisions being made? What are the criteria for extending the school day/ school year? Will teachers and school staff be guaranteed another position like the teachers at the pilot school (Raymond EC)? Will teachers be subject to finding their own mutual consent placement as outlined in the union contract? Has DCPS considered that the decision to lengthen the school year could contribute to higher teacher turn over? Do education stakeholders get a say? When will the public be notified of these changes? Will there be hearings held on the changes made to the school year? What is the source of funding for lengthening the school year?
One thing I think many of us can agree on, mayoral control of public education has not been the "cure all" for our schools. Certainly, the education gains promised have not been realized. Taking the power away from our elected school board has not been the 'panacea' that some thought it would be.
I would love to hear your comments on the manner in which the extended school year is being handled by DC public schools. Please feel free to share your thoughts with me on this subject and the extended school day. Teachers, school staff, parents, students and community are welcome to write me c/o thewashingtonteacher@gmail.com
© Candi Peterson, 2016
Jan 10, 2016
Did You Know?
 |
| Response to Coach Spinner |
Statements or expressions of opinions herein 'do not' represent the views or official positions of DCPS, AFT, Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) or its members. Views are my own.
The recent emails you have received about me from Coach
Spinner are accusations, half-truths and lies intended to mislead teachers as
we approach union election season 2016. Coach Spinner continues to be a
“campaign surrogate” for former president, Nathan Saunders. Remember they ran
together and lost in 2013. It seems
dishonesty is a normal part of any election cycle.
I have prided myself as an excellent communicator and have
expressed my views about public education and our union for the past 8-½ years as
The Washington Teacher education blogger starting during the Michelle Rhee era.
I welcome you to check out my blog @ http://thewashingtonteacher.blogspot.com/
I’m compelled to respond to many of the half truths and lies
that have been written about me as well as rumors that are spreading around.
DID YOU KNOW?
Allegation:
Peterson’s “lack of negotiation experience and inability to lead has created
the poor state of affairs of the WTU.”
Response:
As the WTU General Vice President (GVP), I AM NOT A MEMBER OF THE WTU CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS TEAM. The members of
the Contract team are: Elizabeth Davis, Chief Negotiator, Rob Weil, AFT,
Jason Edwards, AFT, Chris Bergfalk, Thomson ES, Janice Brown, Speech Pathologist, Alicia
Hunter, Wilson SHS, Mark Montgomery, Plummer ES, Signe Nelson, Whittier EC, and
Michael White, Neval Thomas ES.
The union President
is the Chief Negotiator of the WTU Contract. This is one of the primary duties of the WTU
President, to secure a contract during
his/her three-year term.
The last union president to secure teachers a contract was George
Parker in 2010. Former President Saunders DID
NOT secure a contract in his term during 2010-2013, and neither
has President Elizabeth Davis, to date. Coach Spinner was on the WTU Executive
Board during 2010-2013 when Nathan Saunders was in office, a fact he left out
of his blog.
DID YOU KNOW?
Allegation: “How
can our union have solidarity when two people most responsible for solidarity
are constantly fighting?”
Response:
This is an out and out lie. While I have philosophical
differences with President Davis, I am not constantly fighting with her. In
fact, due to the demands of representing teachers, many times I only see President
Davis in passing. We have had disagreements within our Executive Board meetings
as this is the proper forum to hash out and air differences of opinion in order
to set policy. This does not carry over to our day-to-day-work.
Solidarity was not one of the platform issues that the Davis/Peterson administration ran on and it’s a false issue as the General Vice President (GVP) plays an important governance oversight role on the WTU board.
Solidarity was not one of the platform issues that the Davis/Peterson administration ran on and it’s a false issue as the General Vice President (GVP) plays an important governance oversight role on the WTU board.
DID YOU KNOW?
Allegation:
“Maybe she (Peterson) just hopes teachers are not aware of her part in the WTU
failure. Maybe she just hopes teachers forget that her job includes helping the
WTU President.”
Response: When
requested, I have undertaken all initiatives and tasks assigned by President Davis.
The roles and responsibilities of the General Vice President
(GVP) are delineated in the WTU Constitution, Article VIII, and Section 2:
A. Perform other duties as delegated by the President
or assigned by the Executive Board.
B. Oversee and assist the building representatives in their duties.
C. Supervise the field representatives and other employees as designated by the President.
B. Oversee and assist the building representatives in their duties.
C. Supervise the field representatives and other employees as designated by the President.
D. Co-sign checks and other financial documents in
the absence of the President or the Treasurer and serve as a fiduciary of the
Union. The General Vice-President shall be
bonded and such expense shall be borne by the Union.
E. Perform all the duties of the President in the absence of the President.
F. Complete the un-expired term of the president should the office become vacant. G. Convene the Elections Committee.
E. Perform all the duties of the President in the absence of the President.
F. Complete the un-expired term of the president should the office become vacant. G. Convene the Elections Committee.
Unfortunately, in my elected role- I have been marginalized
once again and the majority of my constitutional duties have been assigned to Ms. Egbufor, WTU
Chief of Staff.
DID YOU KNOW?
As the General Vice President I was forced to file a complaint due to unfair labor practices. I did not want to file another complaint against WTU;
however, in good conscience, I had no choice because I am not a victim. Last
summer, the WTU Executive Board passed a motion during July, 2015 to stop President
Davis from willfully interfering with the duties of the General Vice President
(GVP) ; however, to date-President Davis has refused to honor that motion.
Subsequently, I filed an unfair labor practice with the
Public Employee Relations Board (known as PERB) against WTU and President Davis
for marginalizing my elected duties as General Vice President (GVP), as well as,
failure of the WTU President to hold timely elections of the WTU Elections Committee
and unauthorized payment of union funds.
The reason the orderly convening of the elections committee is critical, without them teachers will not be able to vote on a contract or hold union elections of officers in 2016. The elections committee elections should have been held in May 2015. WTU elections are eight months overdue.
DID YOU KNOW? That due to the poor staff management and morale, there has been wholesale turnover in key WTU staff positions that has required the General Vice President to function as a de-facto field representative?
When four of our Field Representatives resigned in June 2014, I filled in as WTU Filed Representative covering 40 + schools. Given that Field Services Department is still understaffed, I continue to serve in a dual role as Field Representative even though that is not part of my constitutionally mandated duties.
DID YOU KNOW? That due to the poor staff management and morale, there has been wholesale turnover in key WTU staff positions that has required the General Vice President to function as a de-facto field representative?
When four of our Field Representatives resigned in June 2014, I filled in as WTU Filed Representative covering 40 + schools. Given that Field Services Department is still understaffed, I continue to serve in a dual role as Field Representative even though that is not part of my constitutionally mandated duties.
DID YOU KNOW?
Allegation:
Peterson “deliberately undermined three WTU presidents (Parker, Saunders and
now Davis) all the while crying the victim.
Response: I am an
advocate for teachers and have stood up to corruption within our union and
DCPS. I previously served on the Board of Trustees under the Parker/Saunders
administration. As a result of my effectiveness as a committed WTU board member and advocate for teachers, Nathan Saunders asked me to run with him on his slate in 2010 as
General Vice President (GVP). We both worked to defeat Parker and won in 2010.
Coach Spinner was also elected on our then Executive Board.
Soon after the successful election of Saunders/Peterson, former President Saunders ‘summarily dismissed’ me (fired me without due process) from WTU in
September 2011 and requested that Chancellor Henderson illegally revoke my leave of absence from DCPS.
As a result, I had no choice but to return to DCPS. Subsequently, I filed for
arbitration against WTU and won my case on September 24, 2012.
Arbitrator Stanley Mazaroff ruled:
“This legally unstoppable action taken by Saunders was
not cured by the similar action orchestrated by Saunders and taken during the
following week by the Executive Board, Under the Constitution & By-Laws,
the Executive Board’s authority to discharge or otherwise discipline employees
did not extend to union officers. Article V of the By-Laws expressly provides
that the authority to terminate employees shall not apply to officers of the
union. This exclusion recognizes the fundamental differences between union
employees and elected officers. In the important democratic values that are
embedded in the WTU Constitution. Elected officers, like Peterson are voted
into office by secret ballot of membership, and they can only be removed in other
words recalled by petition signed by 30 percent of the membership. Thus,
neither the president nor the executive board had the authority to under the
union’s Constitution & By-Laws to override the will of the WTU membership
and or dismiss through termination, Peterson’s salary and authority, to
constructively discharge Peterson.”
Saunders refused to reinstate me into office as GVP despite
my legal victory. His actions were illegally SANCTIONED by our then Executive
Board (including Spinner) and this cost the union thousands of dollars. These
actions also stole the vote of members who elected me into office.
For 2 ½ years, I have tried to work with President Davis. I
have attempted to try to resolve problems internally rather than externally.
DID YOU KNOW?
Allegation: “When
28 Social Workers appealed to her (Peterson) for assistance to save their jobs,
she failed them. They were all fired by DCPS in June 2015. Any WTU leadership
without her has a chance of succeeding for teachers. Union solidarity is
important and she has demonstrated the WTU cannot have any with her. “
Response: Twenty-eight
(28) social workers were not fired from DCPS.
The social workers’ case was assigned by President Davis to WTU Field Rep. Consultant, Charles Moore. The President has the discretion to make
assignments to staff. WTU has filed a grievance on behalf of DCPS social
workers that were fired as well as filed a complaint with the Public Employee
Relations Board. Their case is pending a hearing.
DID YOU KNOW?
Allegation: “ It
is crystal clear that a lack of credibility and character on the part of the
Davis/Peterson team has led to the erosion of WTU’s credibility. When we are
finally presented a contract proposal, we must go through it with a fine toothcomb.
I doubt there will be any proposals at this late date. Members cannot
unquestionably trust Davis or Peterson given their track record and leadership
dynamics.”
Response: The goal of the Spinner/Saunders campaign is
to discredit me. I stand on my record. When I came into office, the union was
broke and we inherited enormous debt and a 'white elephant' office building with a 5 million
dollars in mortgage loans that required WTU to get a co-signer to keep the property.
Our parent organization, AFT co-signed the loan and then designated WTU as a “local in crisis.”
Unfortunately, the office of the General Vice President
(GVP) does not give me the power to over-ride any decisions made by the
President. I AM NOT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER. As an Executive Board member, I have 1 vote on our board. Just
like a teacher in a school, if the principal makes unwise decisions, teachers
do not have the power to overturn their actions.
While I may have not spoken out publicly for the past 2-½
years, I have spoken up internally and have been a voice for teachers on the Executive
Board, as well as in our schools.
DID YOU KNOW?
Allegation: We
must vote for competent and proven leadership that can deliver. Vote for
leadership that will be honest, open-minded and forward thinking. We need
leadership that can solve problems and make decisions that will improve our
working conditions. New leadership must have a finger on the pulse of the
members while being respected by DCPS and the educational community.
Response: There is nothing NEW about Coach Spinner and
Nathan Saunders. Former President Saunders was the union president from 2010-2013 and General Vice President for two terms.
He did not get teachers a contract. Saunders did not prove to be honest, open
minded or forward thinking. Coach Spinner was part of the former Executive
Board under Saunders. Both have been Missing in Action (MIA) since they lost the last election in 2013.
© Candi Peterson, 2016
© Candi Peterson, 2016
Dec 14, 2015
Broken Promises- It's December - Still No Contract for You!
 |
| No More Broken Promises! |
Statements or expressions of opinions herein 'do not' represent the views or official positions of DCPS, AFT, Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) or its members. Views are my own.
For the record, I AM NOT a member of the WTU Contract Negotiations team. I never have been. I am a concerned union member and I am tired of 'Broken Promises' of WTU Presidents.
I've witnessed the campaign of mis-information, neglect and avoidance of what I consider the number one job of a WTU President - represent the interests of its members in getting a negotiated contract.
It’s December and after 3 plus years of desperately awaiting a teacher contract, DCPS teachers still don’t have a contract thanks to WTU President/Chief Negotiator Davis and former union president Saunders. Teachers are still in limbo and it seems unlikely that there will be a tentative agreement by the end of the calendar year as reported by President Davis in previous union meetings and newsletters. The last WTU contract expired in September 2012.
Prior to the thanksgiving break, teachers were invited to the Kellogg conference center on the campus of Galludet University on November 19 by WTU for a Contract Action and Member Feedback session.
The WTU newsletter billed this event as the “first-ever WTU member engagement event on contract negotiations” and “an opportunity to represent each school chapter utilizing state-of-the-art audience response technology and hand-held devices to interact, analyze and partake in preliminary contract voting and surveying of the full proposals and Articles completed by the WTU contract negotiations team.
Some of the teachers I conversed with during the evening, initially seemed hopeful that this event was finally an indication that Chief Negotiator Davis and the contract negotiations team were a lot closer to a completion of a tentative agreement. By evening’s end, the presentation left teachers clamoring for transparency.
Michelle Smith, a WTU building representative said as she exited, “I don’t know anymore now then when I came.” Another teacher who requested anonymity said, “when will we see what has already been presented to DCPS ? Tonight was more fake transparency.”
Jim Leonard, a veteran teacher and long standing WTU Building Representative at Wilson Senior High school wrote a letter expressing high school teachers concerns who sat at his table at the Kellogg contract negotiations event. Interesting how Jim’s letter similarly concluded that the meeting left a lot of unanswered questions for teachers. "I really think that the time to take the pulse of the rank and file should be behind us. If we have established positions that the team has thoroughly vetted then we should go forward with the process, do the best we can and then bring the results back for a vote. If there is dissatisfaction, then let those members vote the contract down, says Leonard."
While Leonard said he initially planned to email the letter to WTU President Liz Davis, he opted to openly read his letter at the last union meeting of the year in December held at McKinley.
Leonard tactfully confronts teachers concerns in his letter below. Please read and share this blog with teachers you know.
I've witnessed the campaign of mis-information, neglect and avoidance of what I consider the number one job of a WTU President - represent the interests of its members in getting a negotiated contract.
It’s December and after 3 plus years of desperately awaiting a teacher contract, DCPS teachers still don’t have a contract thanks to WTU President/Chief Negotiator Davis and former union president Saunders. Teachers are still in limbo and it seems unlikely that there will be a tentative agreement by the end of the calendar year as reported by President Davis in previous union meetings and newsletters. The last WTU contract expired in September 2012.
Prior to the thanksgiving break, teachers were invited to the Kellogg conference center on the campus of Galludet University on November 19 by WTU for a Contract Action and Member Feedback session.
The WTU newsletter billed this event as the “first-ever WTU member engagement event on contract negotiations” and “an opportunity to represent each school chapter utilizing state-of-the-art audience response technology and hand-held devices to interact, analyze and partake in preliminary contract voting and surveying of the full proposals and Articles completed by the WTU contract negotiations team.
Some of the teachers I conversed with during the evening, initially seemed hopeful that this event was finally an indication that Chief Negotiator Davis and the contract negotiations team were a lot closer to a completion of a tentative agreement. By evening’s end, the presentation left teachers clamoring for transparency.
Michelle Smith, a WTU building representative said as she exited, “I don’t know anymore now then when I came.” Another teacher who requested anonymity said, “when will we see what has already been presented to DCPS ? Tonight was more fake transparency.”
Jim Leonard, a veteran teacher and long standing WTU Building Representative at Wilson Senior High school wrote a letter expressing high school teachers concerns who sat at his table at the Kellogg contract negotiations event. Interesting how Jim’s letter similarly concluded that the meeting left a lot of unanswered questions for teachers. "I really think that the time to take the pulse of the rank and file should be behind us. If we have established positions that the team has thoroughly vetted then we should go forward with the process, do the best we can and then bring the results back for a vote. If there is dissatisfaction, then let those members vote the contract down, says Leonard."
While Leonard said he initially planned to email the letter to WTU President Liz Davis, he opted to openly read his letter at the last union meeting of the year in December held at McKinley.
Leonard tactfully confronts teachers concerns in his letter below. Please read and share this blog with teachers you know.
Liz,
"I just wanted to give you the
impressions from my table of high school teachers. Although I think it is a
positive that the WTU is seeking input regarding areas that are being worked
on, most of us left the meeting not really knowing much more than what we knew
when we arrived. Is it that you can’t give us specific language that you have
proposed, or has no specific language been presented to the district for
consideration? That seems to be the biggest concern.
Are we still trying to get the pulse of the membership to see what language should be presented or are we sharing ideas that have already been prepared and presented? I would find it difficult to imagine that we could ever be in a position to complete the process if we do not yet have established goals with language to match already completed.
Are we still trying to get the pulse of the membership to see what language should be presented or are we sharing ideas that have already been prepared and presented? I would find it difficult to imagine that we could ever be in a position to complete the process if we do not yet have established goals with language to match already completed.
There were some areas that were
informative, such as the WTU’s position regarding the extended day or year. If
I heard you correctly the WTU would like to have its members be able opt out of
either the extended day or year if their school votes to accept either of
these. That was definitive information. Thank you.
We also learned that there will be an
attempt to tighten up the grievance process. I think the results of the
question about being paid by administrative premium v. per diem, for
after-hours work, was interesting. My only concern is that if we go to a per
diem model the district will only give those positions to younger teachers, as
it will cost them far less.
I really appreciate your time and
effort and your concern about transparency; however I really think that the
time to take the pulse of the rank and file should be behind us. If we have
established positions that the team has thoroughly vetted then we should go
forward with the process, do the best we can and then bring the results back
for a vote. If there is dissatisfaction, then let those members vote the contract
down."
Jim
© Candi Peterson, 2015
© Candi Peterson, 2015
Nov 9, 2015
A Guide to Interpreting WTU-DCPS Contract Talks
Written by Candi Peterson, WTU General Vice President
Statements or expressions of opinions herein 'do not' represent the views or official positions of DCPS, AFT, Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) or its members. Views are my own.
For the record, I am not a member of the WTU contract negotiations team. Like you are, I am a concerned union member.
From where I sit, it’s not looking good for the negotiations between WTU and DCPS. Let’s just say negotiations aren’t dead, but negotiations seem to have broken off with WTU and members of the Chancellor’s team.
DCPS teachers are complaining
because the last contract expired in 2012, and
three years later, they still are without a contract. Having gone this
long without a contract, it’s understandable why many teachers’ see
no real end in sight.
In reaction to
teachers’ concerns about not having a contract, WTU recently released a
contract update on October 19, 2015; titled WTU-DCPS Contract
Talks FAQs. My analysis here is an attempt to provide educators a guide in interpreting WTU-DCPS contract talks. The WTU FAQ sheet reveals:
“WTU President Elizabeth Davis and our negotiators are committed to reaching a new agreement by the end of December. In order to accomplish this, the WTU will direct its focus to engaging in full-time contract negotiations. We’re pushing hard towards that goal….”
We must ask if President Davis
is recommending full time contract negotiations, is this a viable
option given that most of the members on the negotiating team are either full-time principals on the
chancellor’s team or full-time teachers on the WTU team? Is it
likely that DCPS would agree to this when this proposal would require that teachers and
principals on both sides would have to abandon their schools/classes for
an extended period of time? Is the end
of December 2015 a realistic time frame
for the completion of a tentative agreement? It seems highly unlikely unless Davis has a
tentative agreement tucked away in her hip pocket. When did both sides-WTU and DCPS
last meet? Was it during last school year (14-15) ?
The WTU FAQ sheet gives the following responses regarding Why negotiations
are taking so long?
“Bargaining
can be a long and complicated process particularly when there are significant
issues to be resolved. The talks have now stretched over two administrations.
The former administration had offered proposals that would have
lowered the professionalism and undercut the voice of teachers….
Your
bargaining team drafted new proposals that would move us in a better direction …. Time
and again, the school district has appeared to take the slow play approach to bargaining.
We repeatedly proposed full time negotiations everyday-DCPS said no. We
proposed meetings over the summer-DCPS said no. Back in January, we
requested the financial and programmatic data essential to informed negotiations nearly 10
months later, we are still waiting. DCPS says it agrees with the goal of finishing
by the end of the year, and we are hopeful DCPS actions in the future will represent
a real commitment to this aim.
WTU and
DCPS shared their respective proposals, and it was clear that we were far apart
on some major
issues; including protected planning time, class size, supplies and support.”
It’s a given that contract
negotiations can be long and complicated and have spanned two administrations under Saunders and now Davis.
This is not news. This explanation focuses on what former President Saunders’
administration offered in his contract proposal. What this
explanation doesn’t tell us why President
Davis has been unable to secure a tentative agreement in two years and three months in office?
It would seem logical to me that both sides
would disagree on the major issues cited above. Isn’t that the whole
point of negotiations that there has to be give and take on both sides in order to reach a
compromise?
There’s got to be
more than just disagreements about when to hold contract meeting talks with DCPS.
What are the difficulties in communication on both sides? Isn’t it true that previous contract teams didn’t meet full
time or during summers yet negotiated a tentative agreement? The WTU FAQ sheet
suggests that WTU proposed a 2015-16 contract negotiations
schedule yet “DCPS said no.” So are we
to believe that the weekly dates printed in the WTU yearly 15-16 calendar beginning
September 10, 2015 and ending June 20, 2016 were all rejected by
DCPS?
What does Davis mean when she states the school District has appeared
to take the slow play approach to bargaining? The word ‘appears’ is the
operative word in this
sentence. It certainly conflicts with Davis’ earlier statements that the
Chancellor and her team were refusing to
meet. As members, we deserve to hear the
whole story not just some ‘talking points’ crafted to quell member dissension.
Inquiring minds want to know the details.
What are our
priorities? The WTU FAQ sheet lists the
following as priorities:
"Educational
resources, expansion of the community schools concept, mutual consent
alternative, time and tools and salary and benefits."
We all agree that
resources, planning time, salary and benefits are givens in most contracts. But
let’s cut to the chase. What else besides a mutual consent alternative is
among WTU’s top key priorities? For starters, how is WTU approaching DCPS’
desire to extend the school day? Is extended day a non-negotiable item for WTU? Has WTU resigned not to discuss this issue with management?
Where are we now?
The WTU FAQ sheet says:
"We are in
the early stages of mediation process that began when DCPS asked-and WTU
agreed- to seek the
help of a mediator. President Davis has met several times with the proposed
mediator, and hopefully
with the agreement of DCPS, we will soon begin full time negotiations."
What is the conflict that led to a
mediator being considered by DCPS? Has WTU presented their choices for a mediator to DCPS? If so, when? If not, why not?
What’s next? The WTU FAQ
sheet indicates:
"…..
Transparency has been a guiding principle for your bargaining team. We have
tried to make sure you have accurate,
real time information on our negotiations. Over the next few weeks, your WTU
leaders, district representatives and building representatives want to have
conversations with as many members as possible…..”
I certainly hope
transparency will be the new flavor of the day and is not just some promise of
empty rhetoric. So far the lack of
transparency has not been the trademark of WTU Chief Negotiator Elizabeth Davis. After
two plus years of negotiations, we are long overdue for regular updates.
We cannot remain complacent when it comes to teacher contract negotiations like many teachers did during the 2010 sellout contract negotiated by former WTU President George Parker and AFT President Randi Weingarten. What I hope to show here in this article is that we must learn to interpret political double-speak because oftentimes we are given only partial truths, albeit from elected leaders. Feel free to use some of my questions posted here as a guide when asking questions about WTU contract talks.
On Tuesday, November 10th we will hold our next WTU Representative Assembly meeting at McKinley SHS @ 430 pm where teacher contract talks will be the subject on the agenda. Come prepared to ask the tough questions for which you want answers. Hope to see you there.
On Tuesday, November 10th we will hold our next WTU Representative Assembly meeting at McKinley SHS @ 430 pm where teacher contract talks will be the subject on the agenda. Come prepared to ask the tough questions for which you want answers. Hope to see you there.
© Candi Peterson, 2015
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