Charter Schools In NY Go Union
November 29, 2007 02:47 PM
On good days I get to blog about people who are coming together, standing up for themselves and for the kids they teach. So today I’m celebrating the news about educators at Merrick Academy, a charter school in Queens NY. The staff there have united to petition for a recognition of a union in their school. Edwize has more, and the New York Sun reports on it as well. In addition, I wanted to let you know about the staff of the South Buffalo Charter School deciding to join our union in October. And Green Dot is coming as well. Things are starting to move on this front.
The Sun quotes Peter Murphy (that Peter Murphy) of the New York Charter School Association (yes that NYCSA) saying he doesn’t care if charter school teachers unionize. Murphy’s still on Atlantic Legal’s charter program’s advisory board. That’s a program that’s still distributing materials from the union busters at Jackson Lewis. Yet Murphy’s quote intimates that his only problem with unions is that we’re liars. Of course, it’s Jackson Lewis that says it’s ok for union busters themselves to lie. Congratulations Pete, you’re anti-union rhetoric has entered the 21st Century.
Comments
I'm also glad to see these charters unionize. However, I can't share your enthusiasm for Green Dot.
Green Dot very publicly declares its teachers have neither tenure nor seniority rights. While some argue that they have a "just cause" policy for termination, as far as I know, it's never even been tested. I'd very much like to be corrected if I'm wrong, particularly if any teacher managed to stay employed.
It seems to me that seniority rights are a key element for unions to protect. Without them, employees can be terminated at random, "just cause" the employers feel like it.
And that's not remotely what union is all about. We need unions, not "union-lite."
Posted by: NYC Educator | November 30, 2007 05:07 PM