PCSSD Teachers Union Calls for Job Action
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: October 18, 2012
Members of the Pulaski Association of Classroom Teachers (PACT) have unanimously voted to authorize their acting president to take a new step in its fight with the Pulaski County Special School District over a new contract.
PACT Acting President Brenda Robinson can now call for a job action* if she deems it necessary.
PACT members Tuesday also voted no confidence in Governor Mike Beebe, PCSSD Superintendent Jerry Guess and PCSSD School Board/Arkansas Department of Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell.
These unanimous votes come as a result of the removal of PACT's recognition as the bargaining agent for all district teachers, the dishonoring of PACT's legally-binding contract and the enforcing of budget cuts solely on the backs of teachers and district support staff.
"We are united in our resolve. The court system is slow. We filed lawsuits starting in May and yet we have no court date set and no resolution. Our issues are many: the lack of time to prepare for our classes, the health and safety of our students; the extensive non-instructional duties, the politics that negatively impact our ability to teach and the administration's blatant refusal to follow the laws that protect our students and teachers. We have been patient, but our patience is wearing thin."
*According to uslegal.com, a job action is a unified activity by employees aimed at putting pressure on the employer without resorting to a strike.
PACT Acting President Brenda Robinson can now call for a job action* if she deems it necessary.
PACT members Tuesday also voted no confidence in Governor Mike Beebe, PCSSD Superintendent Jerry Guess and PCSSD School Board/Arkansas Department of Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell.
These unanimous votes come as a result of the removal of PACT's recognition as the bargaining agent for all district teachers, the dishonoring of PACT's legally-binding contract and the enforcing of budget cuts solely on the backs of teachers and district support staff.
"We are united in our resolve. The court system is slow. We filed lawsuits starting in May and yet we have no court date set and no resolution. Our issues are many: the lack of time to prepare for our classes, the health and safety of our students; the extensive non-instructional duties, the politics that negatively impact our ability to teach and the administration's blatant refusal to follow the laws that protect our students and teachers. We have been patient, but our patience is wearing thin."
*According to uslegal.com, a job action is a unified activity by employees aimed at putting pressure on the employer without resorting to a strike.
Comments
One thing upsetting teachers is the atrocious working conditions we are suffering under, without our contract and union being recognized. Another is a huge pay disparity between us and administrators. The highest salary for teachers on our salary schedule (17 years' experience, plus a doctorate) is $68,814 (most earn less), while Dr. Guess collects over 3 times as much, $215,000 (neither figure includes benefits). He claimed "fiscal distress," cut our pay, but took no pay cut himself -- he collects the same this year as he did last year. If you agree that it is blatantly unfair for someone who teaches no one, yet works for a public school district, to be paid more than three times as much as our most-qualified teacher, please sign this petition -- http://www.change.org/petitions/the-c-a-p-education-reform-proposal-save-america-s-schools-by-cutting-administrators-pay-with-federal-legislation -- and please support PACT's future actions, whatever they may be. All we want is for our legally-binding contract and legally-constituted union to be recognized. That is not unreasonable. We are not requesting raises -- only fair and legal treatment.
Robert A.
October 23, 2012 at 5:23 am
