Cairo Association of Teachers CATTRACKS FOR 9-21-94

ASSOCIATION WITHDRAWS U.L.P.

As you know, the Cairo Association of Teachers filed an unfair labor practice complaint (U.L.P.) against the Board of Education last Spring. The Association charged the Board with violating Illinois labor law by refusing to bargain “in good faith” concerning the reductions in force (RIF) due to “economic necessity”.

A hearing before the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board was initially set for August 24, 1994, and then rescheduled for September 20 and 21 in Springfield. The Association was prepared to argue its position and substantiate its charges at that hearing. Our team felt it had a very strong case–with ample documentation. In fact, cases without merit are dismissed prior to any hearing.

In preparing for the hearing, the Board’s attorney, Mark Johnson, contacted our I.E.A. attorney, Wanda Van Pelt, and broached the possibility of settling the case prior to the hearing date. The Association Bargaining Team agreed to meet Mr. Johnson and explore that possibility.

We had two members–Doris Case and Pat Ryan–who were not already under contract for the 1994-95 School Year. We felt that this made their situations a priority. Therefore, the Association agreed to withdraw its ULP complaint in return for the promised re-employment of these two individuals. Pat was rehired for the 1994-95 School Year–retroactive to 8/22/94. Doris is enrolled in graduate school and will return to us for the 1995-96 School Year–guaranteed. (I talked to both Doris and Pat prior to the settlement and it is according to their requests.)

Unfortunately, the Association cannot look upon this settlement with great satisfaction. The impact of the RIF continues. We have former members who were forced to leave and desire to come back. We have members who have lost their extra-duty positions. Most of us have been “impacted” by an increase in the number of students in the classroom–or the loss of services from a RIFed colleague. The district has lost students–and state aid money–as parents have pulled their children out of the Cairo Public Schools in response to the loss of programs–both curricular and extracurricular.

So many lives disrupted; so many hard feelings. The real tragedy in this situation is that the cuts did NOT have to be made in the first place. That was the Association’s position last Spring, and the past 6 months have only verified it.

The Association has simply tried to made the best of a bad situation. In reaching this settlement, the Association did NOT give away any rights that individuals have under the R.I.F. laws of the State of Illinois. All laws and rights are still in place–and two of our members are guaranteed employment.