Teachers upset at union over layoffs

If her name hadn't already been published for 1000's to see and she hadn't been on the news then I wouldn't have used her name. “Take a vote. If teachers don’t want the furloughs, then case closed, but they won’t even allow it to go to a vote,” said Kim Sward, a teacher at Palla Elementary School who will be getting a pink slip. She is not a member of the teachers' union, and was not allowed inside a closed meeting at Ollivier Middle School Thursday afternoon.

sofedup needs to look up the legality of side bargaining. I don't care whether you call it a MOU or not. If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. To negotiate it as a separate item after the DISTRICT put it on the table is side bargaining.

ur2goofy, Really unfortunate that you would post a persons name in a forum such as this. That's just dirty. Those that monitor this forum should ban you from ever posting here again.

The thing that many of you are missing is that the meeting was informational, only. It was held on public property, a facility that remained open on the public dime. Anyone, including the media had a right to be there. You cannot just make up, on the fly, that this will be a "member only" meeting. Had the union rented that facility, then they would have absolutely had that right. On top of that, the union violated the law by discriminating against a teacher simply because she was NOT a union member. There are U.S. Supreme Court rulings on such matters. The Union also had no right barring the media from the meeting. Once again, it was public property open on the public dime. The tactics of the union in this matter are just slimey. Where's the transparency? Why are they discriminating against teachers just because they're not members? Why do they ridicule any of the teachers because they wish to dissent? Calling them "trouble makers" and just flat out being condescending is nothing but Saul Alinsky's 13 "Rules for Radicals" Shame on those of you that show more allegience to a union then you do to your own fellow teachers. It's just DISGUSTING!!!

No, Kim did not go to that meeting looking for a fight! She had every right to be there. The first email that was sent around about the meeting invited all teachers and then they sent out the "members only" the day of the meeting. The things that were discussed pertained to her and it was wrong for them to handle things the way they did. Why did they start the meeting saying it had to be closed because there were come trouble makers? What are they afraid of? We have every right to question them and to make sure they are looking out for everyone's best interest. We have a right to vote on the furlough days, and they are keeping us from that. The union can add the furlough days through with a Memorandum of Understanding. It is a single item that is negotiated outside of the contract and then becomes part of the contract if it is voted for. CTA flat out said that furlough days are a day without pay! CTA also called the absurd and then denied saying that 2 minutes later. CTA also said the they would not let the 11.5% pay decrease go through, if they did they would not be very good negotiators. All CTA has done is try to intimidate and bully people. By the way she never sent any union bashing emails, all she did was ask questions, and last I looked this is still America!

I will withdraw my statement that you sent your email during instructional time, since the original was sent after 9pm, I guess that the resend at 8:02 isn't that big of a deal (really not trying to be sarcastic). You did go to the meeting knowing that it was a members only meeting, so I don't think it is fair of you to expect to just come in anyway. You did have an opportunity to join the union and stay with the rest of the members and get the information, but you chose not to and that is why you were asked to leave. There is more to our contract than just voting on furlough days. Other factors include an opening proposal of an 11.5% pay reduction, 5 days furlough with a 2.7% pay reduction, and a cap on our health benefits. Superintendent Crawford said himself that the savings from furlough days did not guarantee that teachers would be hired back. The 1.2 million dollars in savings is discretionary, so they can spend it however they want and since every employee in the district would take a 2.7% reduction in pay it isn't even fair to ask that ALL of the money go only for teachers. I am really sorry that you got a pink slip. It isn't anything that I would want to happen to anyone. You are taking the heat because you put yourself out there in the spotlight. I really think that your anger is misplaced. The district made the cuts because they had to. Other districts in Kern County have made cuts over the last few years and we all knew that it would eventually hit home in GFUSD. Hopefully, after they follow the proper negotiation procedure then some, if not all of the 27 will get their jobs back. Again, I have sympathy for those in your position, but it is quickly diminishing because some of the people "pinked" feel that everyone else should agree with everything they say. Hope things get better, because this situation is turning ugly for everyone!

I did not go looking for a fight. I went ot hear their position and get information believing knowledge is power. I have NEVER sent union bashing emails to the district! I sent an email stating my position and if you look carefully it was sent after 9pm, which is waaay after INSTRUCTIOANAL time... people are spreading lies about me and I am the one being called a liar. I also never called the news...they were there when I was told to leave the building. You are full of misinformation... I will be honest and tell the truth on what ever anyone would like to know.

Kim Sward needs to read the comment from kywyca and take lessons from him or her! Kim Sward went to the meeting knowing that it was for members only, was offered the opportunity to join the union, and chose not to join. She went "looking for a fight"! This is the same teacher who sent union bashing emails to the entire Greenfield School District DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME!! I am sorry that the district is cutting teachers, but am losing sympathy for those acting like the rest of us owe them something.

I completely agree with agguy's statements. I'm a teacher that has received a layoff notice. I feel bad about it but it's another bump on the road. I'm manning up and being positive and then going back to school to add another credential and adding supplementary and subject matter competencies to my existing credential. I didn't get into this as a way to make money, although we are underpaid. I did it to work with kids and try to help them become better people in the long run. I know from my site and district, there are a TON of older people that yell at the kids, verbally abuse them, and treat them like crap and then act superior to the newbies (me) because we actually work after the bell rings and differentiate instruction for kids of all levels,language abilities and cultures. Man up,teachers! Be positive and and good luck on your next position.

Instead of whining about raising taxes & the layoff why not look into where almost half of the state budget is going, it sure as heck isn't making it to the classrooms. The unions mess things up, the bus drivers at one of the school districts here can't even get ahold of their union rep, look what happened in Boron, the union wouldn't budge so the mine did what they had to do, kick em all out & get non-union people to come in. Sorry schools, WE ARE ALREADY PAYING OUT THE BUTT IN TAXES FOR YOU!!! YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY... or hire a second grader to do it for your.