By Adam Pagnucco.
The Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) has announced its intention to file an unfair labor practice charge against MCPS. This is another shot fired in a conflict going all the way back to 2016, when the school board agreed to trim teacher raises in return for a funding boost from the county council. That was followed by disagreements over COVID policy, unusually long contract negotiations, a vote of no confidence by the teachers against the school system’s COVID reopening and rallies by MCEA over safe schools and staff shortages. The newest row is a disagreement between labor and management over how to bargain a new contract.
MCEA’s press release appears below. If MCPS responds publicly, we will print that too. In addition, the letter by MCEA’s legal counsel to MCPS can be downloaded here: MCEA Letter to Blivess 10-14-22
*****
Press Release
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022
Media Contact: Kate Hardwicke
mceapress@mceanea.org
Educators to File an Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against MCPS for Failure to Bargain
— Educators to file a ULP charge against MCPS, demanding transparency while delivering key bargaining proposals to Montgomery County Board of Education tonight at 5 PM
Rockville, MD – After weeks of stalling negotiations, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Board of Education will be put on notice today for unlawful delay tactics, preventing contract negotiations with the more than 14,000 public school educators of Montgomery County.
“It is time for MCPS to bargain in good faith and ensure that the whole community is represented and informed as we negotiate for a fair contract that is reflective of the needs of our students, our educators and our communities. We will not be derailed, and we will bring our bargaining proposals to light, even if MCPS wants to continue to operate in hiding,” said Danillya Wilson, a first-grade teacher at Wheaton Woods and secretary on the Board of the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA).
While MCEA educators are fighting for contract negotiations to remain a transparent and inclusive process, MCPS is using the demand for open negotiations as a reason to put off bargaining. That delay tactic is in violation of state labor laws governing negotiations between employees and employers. Today’s action follows a letter that was sent to the MCPS chief negotiator and the Board of Education on Friday. If no response is forthcoming from MCPS by the close of business Tuesday, MCEA will file charges of an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP).
At 5 PM, as the rally begins, educators will officially file ULP charges and re-assert demands to get to the table. In the spirit of transparency, after the rally, MCEA members will march into the building at 6 PM to meet with the Board of Education to deliver key bargaining proposals, including proposals to stabilize the educating workforce by recruiting and retaining highly qualified educators and staff for all Montgomery County students.
Latechia Mitchell, a staff development teacher and MCEA Bargaining Team Chair, cited problems leading to attrition and teacher shortages: inadequate wages, substitute teacher shortages, lack of autonomy, and unreasonable workloads.
“Turnover and resignation rates for educators continue to skyrocket, resulting in staffing shortages, disruptive teacher transfers, and less-than-optimal conditions for students,” Mitchell said. “This current wave of educator attrition points to fundamental flaws in the way educators are treated. This educator exodus points to fundamental flaws in the way teachers are treated. Let’s make MCPS a top-notch destination for educators again, by coming together to negotiate a contract that addresses these issues.”
PRESS DETAILS:
WHAT: A demand for transparency from the BOE, the announcement of the filing of ULP charges, and a meeting between MCEA’s Board and the Board of Education where educators will deliver key bargaining proposals.
WHO: More than 100 educators, including classroom teachers, speech pathologists, school counselors and other educators.
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 18
TIME: 5 PM rally; March inside at 6 PM
WHERE: MCPS Board of Education auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850
VISUALS: Educators rallying and holding signs that say, “What is MCPS hiding?” and “Transparency=Honesty.” The MCEA Board of Directors marching into the building with union members, to meet with the Board of Education and deliver proposals after the rally.
DETAILS: A short rally program will begin at 5 PM; media availability with educators will follow.
See related recent news stories below:
The Washington Post: Montgomery teachers union, schools delay contract talks over disagreement
Bethesda Beat: MCPS and teachers union fail to agree on ground rules for collective bargaining
______________________________________
MCEA represents more than 14,000 classroom teachers, school counselors, speech pathologists, media specialists and other educators on the Montgomery County Public Schools system; MCEA is one of the largest local affiliates of the National Education Association (NEA) and is a leader in building a new kind of educators’ union that responds to the needs of today’s educators and students. For more information, visit www.mceanea.org.
###