Washington teachers fined for not working
From Sunshine Review
September 10, 2009 In Washington, Judge Andrea Darvas ruled that Kent School District teachers striking and their union be fined for each day not going to work.[1]
[edit] Illegal strike
Judge Darvas, a King County Superior Court Judge, ruled that the teachers striking in what a September 3 hearing declared to be an illegal strike must pay $200 per day not in their classrooms. The teachers' union, the Kent Education Association, is fined $1,500 per day. All of these fines began September 14 and will be retroactive to September 8.
The district's 1,700 teachers were on strike between August 28 and September 14. The district's 26,000 students at its 40 schools didn't begin school on August 31 as planned.
The Evergreen Freedom Foundation was the first to report the judge’s order in detail using the social networking tool, Twitter, from inside the courtroom.[1]
[edit] Teachers' reaction
Patti Habetler has taught for 36 years, 22 of them in Kent, and was in the courtroom the day of the hearing at Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. She said that she would continue to strike, though the fine takes away from her paycheck, the only one in her family.
“I wrestled with the legality, but it’s a matter of principle,” Habetler said. She doesn’t believe there will be backlash against the teachers union.
“While I understand and respect the teachers’ point of view,” Judge Darvas said “they are wrong in their actions – they are breaking the law.”
Approximately 150 or so teachers, students, and a few parents said they would remain on strike.
Marilyn Young, a special education teacher in the district, acknowledged the strike was in breach of contract and breaking the law, but said teachers and union leaders were ready to go to jail, if needed.
“The rule of law should prevail,” Gerry Abbe, father of Kent Meridian High School graduates, said. “The teachers might have legitimate issues, but they’re breaking a court order. The law says no strike.” He expressed disgust at the rally. “The crowd in front of the court house has an ‘in your face’ attitude toward the judge.”[1]
[edit] Teachers head back
On Monday, September 14, 2009, teachers agreed to end the strike after a new contract agreement. Students went back to school the following day, two weeks later than originally planned.
Teachers approved the new contract with a 94 percent yes vote, said Kent Education Association spokesman Dale Folkerts. The contract reduces class sizes, increases the time with students, limits administrative meetings and gives a raise to teachers.
"Kent School District leaders will be forced to confront the issue of overcrowded classes now and in the future," he said. "Parents say this 18-day strike awakened them to some of the abuses happening within the Kent School District."
Kent Education Association President Lisa Brackin Johnson said the contract was worth the wait because teachers had gains in all of their major issues: class size, time with students, workload and compensation.
"The membership came together to stand for what they believe in," Johnson said. "They came together to ensure that their voice was heard."
This brought an end to the only teachers' strike in the nation.[2]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Judge hammers Kent teachers, union – stiff fines if no return to classroom," Evergreen Freedom Foundation, September 10, 2009
- ↑ "Wash. teachers approve contract, head back to work," Seattle Times, September 14, 2009
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