Douglas County, Colorado's third-largest school district, has drawn attention for its successful effort to bid adieu to the AFT-affiliated teachers union. Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the metro Denver area, the state's fifth-largest district is tangling with an NEA-affiliated union that seems bent on tarnishing its image.
The scenario is a little different in the 43,000-student Adams 12 school district, where in June the Board of Education opted to close a budget hole by asking teachers to make the same pension contribution as other employee groups. More than two months later the union complained that the Board had violated the contract, and took the opportunity to make a public scene.
The scenario is a little different in the 43,000-student Adams 12 school district, where in June the Board of Education opted to close a budget hole by asking teachers to make the same pension contribution as other employee groups. More than two months later the union complained that the Board had violated the contract, and took the opportunity to make a public scene.
At the Sept. 5 school board meeting, more than 400 Colorado Education Association (CEA) members from at least seven different school districts turned out to intimidate the district's elected leaders with shows of rhythmic clapping and sign-waving. They ended up walking out on the meeting before waiting to hear the Board's response, leaving two taxpayers who respectfully expressed dissenting views to be escorted away by security officers for their own protection.
Clearly visible in the video of teachers walking out of the meeting and making the scene is new CEA president Kerrie Dallman, shaking off the carefully-crafted public image of collaboration. For some strange reason, union leaders changed course at the next Board meeting on Sept. 19. Signs were stowed away.
One of the taxpayers escorted out for his own safety, Joseph Hein, later sat down with me for a moving radio interview to discuss his up close and personal experience with union bullying. At the Sept. 19 meeting, a much smaller crowd of teachers applauded his calls to open bargaining negotiation sessions and records to public view. Hein may have called union leaders' bluff, as the extra sunshine would put some union claims to the test. More action may come on the transparency front as a federal fact-finder's report arrives later in the fall.
Union protestors reportedly decided to bypass this week's Adams 12 board meeting in favor of waving creative signs at major intersections in and near the district. But were they able to stay one step ahead of the photographers and videographers who could relay images of their behavior to a wider world? We shall see.
From the CEA's perspective, now would not be the time to alienate support. Other Colorado school boards may have begun to realize that moving on without a local monopoly of teachers union power may not be as difficult as previously thought.
Clearly visible in the video of teachers walking out of the meeting and making the scene is new CEA president Kerrie Dallman, shaking off the carefully-crafted public image of collaboration. For some strange reason, union leaders changed course at the next Board meeting on Sept. 19. Signs were stowed away.
One of the taxpayers escorted out for his own safety, Joseph Hein, later sat down with me for a moving radio interview to discuss his up close and personal experience with union bullying. At the Sept. 19 meeting, a much smaller crowd of teachers applauded his calls to open bargaining negotiation sessions and records to public view. Hein may have called union leaders' bluff, as the extra sunshine would put some union claims to the test. More action may come on the transparency front as a federal fact-finder's report arrives later in the fall.
Union protestors reportedly decided to bypass this week's Adams 12 board meeting in favor of waving creative signs at major intersections in and near the district. But were they able to stay one step ahead of the photographers and videographers who could relay images of their behavior to a wider world? We shall see.
From the CEA's perspective, now would not be the time to alienate support. Other Colorado school boards may have begun to realize that moving on without a local monopoly of teachers union power may not be as difficult as previously thought.
Join the conversation