Detroit teachers threaten to sue union re. ballot...

[Zacha341]

Detroit teachers threaten to sue union over contract ballot language

http://www.freep.com/article/2009121...allot-language

Posted: 8:37 p.m. Dec. 17, 2009

By LORI HIGGINS and CHASTITY PRATT DAWSEY
FREE PRESS EDUCATION WRITERS

Some members of the Detroit Federation of Teachers are threatening to file a court injunction if the union doesn’t halt voting on a proposed Detroit Public Schools contract, a threat that came a day before the ballots are to be counted.

“This is not a fair vote,” said George Washington, a Detroit attorney who said he represents several members of the union’s election committee and some other union members.

Among the concerns spelled out in a letter Washington sent to Keith Johnson, the union president: Washington cited a failure by Johnson to consult anyone before writing the ballot and called it biased because it spells out what will happen if members vote no. The letter also raises questions about the accuracy of the vote, because of problems with voting lists.

Johnson said their arguments were not grounds for suspending the ratification process. He denied the request, though he admitted there have been a few problems during the voting. Two schools didn’t get ballots, but they eventually were delivered.

“Most of the teachers have already voted. Whatever happens tomorrow happens,” he said tonight, referring to the counting of the ballots Friday.
Johnson said putting that language on the ballot was not illegal.

“I put that on there because there is so much information, in fact downright lies, out there,” he explained. “I wanted people to have a clear understanding.”
Mark O’Keefe, executive vice president of the DFT, said past ballot language has always spelled out that a “no” vote on a contract would mean members would withhold their services. The only difference this time is what the no vote will mean.

“It’s informative language, not coercive,” O’Keefe said. “It’s the least coercive language we’ve ever had.”

But Washington said telling voters that voting no means they will stop working is different than telling them all the ramifications of voting no that the current ballot spells out.

“It lets one side use the ballot for a propaganda tool and that’s never been done before,” Washington said.

Meanwhile, union members are circulating petitions to recall Johnson, citing dissastification with the tentative agreement he negotiated.

Contact LORI HIGGINS : 313-222-6651 or lhiggins@freepress.com

[DetroitTeacher]

Oh Jeez. That's Steve Conn and his radical group...

[Zacha341]

The whole process is something to behold. Teachers are even at each others throats re. who and "how" one votes.....

Oh Jeez. That's Steve Conn and his radical group...

[MichMatters]

Just watch how quickly this gets thrown out...

[oldredfordette]

Does anybody take Conn seriously anymore? Why do the newspapers and the tv "news" fall for it?

[eastsidechris]

“It’s the least coercive language we’ve ever had.�

This might be the quote of the year.
I compared the language on the ballot to if the presidential ballots from last year reminded voters that if elected, Obama would become the nation's first African-American president.

I was at the DFT meeting last Thursday, and one of the election committee members, Tracy Arneau--who is NOT a member of Conn's wacko union militia--got up to address the issues with the ballot to the union members. She said that no one on the election committee had written the ballot, that it was just printed out--and no one would take credit for the wording.

No matter what today's vote is, Keith Johnson needs to go. You may recall that he only took office when Virginia Cantrell was recalled by members a year ago. A lot of DFT members think that was a shady deal, since we can't seem to find anyone who will own up to voting Cantrell out. Cantrell didn't even get a chance to negotiate a contract for the DFT. It would be poetic justice, in my book, if Johnson got his chance and was then voted out for his ineffectiveness. What goes around comes around, Keith.

[eastsidechris]

Just sat in on my school's vote count...NO narrowly defeated YES, so the contract has been rejected by my school.

Also signed the petition to boot out Keith Johnson as DFT president.

[Zacha341]

Per public notice on the official DFT site the Tentative Agreement [[Contract) was Ratified:

3,578 yes

2,031 no

http://mi.aft.org/dft231/

[Meddle]

If they don't like it, let 'em go flip burgers.

[Rideron]

Maybe the teachers need a Union to handle their dealings with the DFT?

[Zacha341]

IMO the ballot should have had the same amount of verbiage/ information re. the "Yes" vote as the "No" vote had, down even to the word count. The vote would have probably been the same... then the law suit would have been over something else it could be argued!

Maybe the teachers need a Union to handle their dealings with the DFT?

[Zacha341]

Has there been any more news about this proposed litigation?