Post by blackcrowheart on Oct 22, 2005 11:31:26 GMT -5
School faces unfair labour practice charges
By David Helwig
SooToday.com
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
In what's emerging as a classic standoff between tribal sovereignty and state labour law, the Michigan Education Association has filed complaints of unfair labour practices against an award-winning school owned by the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
Earlier this month, the 33 teachers at Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Public School Academy became the first teachers on a reservation to be represented by the Michigan Education Association and the National Education Association.
However, the Sault Tribe considers the union a threat to tribal sovereignty.
On September 30, the tribe's board of directors unanimously passed a motion prohibiting the use of tribal dollars to support any unionized entity and discontinuing the lease on tribal properties where unionization occurs.
"This represents a very serious threat to the tribe because the school is located on our reservation," says tribal chairperson Aaron Payment.
"It also threatens our right to self governance as it introduced a new governing body," Payment said in a letter to Sault Tribe members. "Though I am generally supportive of unionization in employment where past employment practices warrant it, the threat to our ability to operate outside of control from outside of the tribe is too great. Ultimately, unionizing would mean taking valuable resources and decision making away from the tribe. Federal Indian preference in hiring for example would simply not exist," Payment says.
The Michigan Education Association, however, believes the Sault Tribe is simply engaging in union-busting tactics.
The following news release was issued yesterday by the Michigan Education Association:
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MEA files charges against charter school board
East Lansing, Mich., Oct. 18, 2005 — The Michigan Education Association (MEA) today filed charges against the Board of Education of the Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Public School Academy in Sault Ste. Marie.
The charges stem from the school administration's statements that the Board will never negotiate with the union as well as threats to close the school.
The charges also allege that the school illegally changed the teachers' long-standing working conditions, in retaliation for their recent vote to join MEA.
"These strong-arm anti-union tactics are illegal," said MEA president Lu Battaglieri.
Chris Gordon, a teacher at the school, said, "All we're trying to do is to better our school and the learning environments for our students."
Bahweting is a public charter school authorized by Northern Michigan University (NMU).
Located on the reservation of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the school has 329 students and 33 teachers.
Bahweting is an award-winning school that first opened as a tribal school in 1994.
In 1995, the school became a public school academy authorized by NMU.
Since teachers voted to join MEA earlier this month, the Sault Tribe has indicated that it will close the school unless teachers get rid of the union.
Today’s filing with the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) charges the school with unfair labor practices.
The complaint includes multiple charges such as unilateral change of working conditions to the detriment of the students, staff and the educational process. One post-election directive, for example, from a school administrator requires teachers to obtain prior authorization before speaking with their student's parents.
Teachers at the school are the first who work on a reservation to be represented by MEA and the National Education Association.
In New Mexico, 22 Native American tribes employ staff in schools represented by unions.
"The union stands for fairness and equity," Battaglieri said. "To say, 'We're closing the school because the teachers unionized," is shocking. What is the Sault Tribe afraid of?"
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By David Helwig
SooToday.com
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
In what's emerging as a classic standoff between tribal sovereignty and state labour law, the Michigan Education Association has filed complaints of unfair labour practices against an award-winning school owned by the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
Earlier this month, the 33 teachers at Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Public School Academy became the first teachers on a reservation to be represented by the Michigan Education Association and the National Education Association.
However, the Sault Tribe considers the union a threat to tribal sovereignty.
On September 30, the tribe's board of directors unanimously passed a motion prohibiting the use of tribal dollars to support any unionized entity and discontinuing the lease on tribal properties where unionization occurs.
"This represents a very serious threat to the tribe because the school is located on our reservation," says tribal chairperson Aaron Payment.
"It also threatens our right to self governance as it introduced a new governing body," Payment said in a letter to Sault Tribe members. "Though I am generally supportive of unionization in employment where past employment practices warrant it, the threat to our ability to operate outside of control from outside of the tribe is too great. Ultimately, unionizing would mean taking valuable resources and decision making away from the tribe. Federal Indian preference in hiring for example would simply not exist," Payment says.
The Michigan Education Association, however, believes the Sault Tribe is simply engaging in union-busting tactics.
The following news release was issued yesterday by the Michigan Education Association:
*********************
MEA files charges against charter school board
East Lansing, Mich., Oct. 18, 2005 — The Michigan Education Association (MEA) today filed charges against the Board of Education of the Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Public School Academy in Sault Ste. Marie.
The charges stem from the school administration's statements that the Board will never negotiate with the union as well as threats to close the school.
The charges also allege that the school illegally changed the teachers' long-standing working conditions, in retaliation for their recent vote to join MEA.
"These strong-arm anti-union tactics are illegal," said MEA president Lu Battaglieri.
Chris Gordon, a teacher at the school, said, "All we're trying to do is to better our school and the learning environments for our students."
Bahweting is a public charter school authorized by Northern Michigan University (NMU).
Located on the reservation of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the school has 329 students and 33 teachers.
Bahweting is an award-winning school that first opened as a tribal school in 1994.
In 1995, the school became a public school academy authorized by NMU.
Since teachers voted to join MEA earlier this month, the Sault Tribe has indicated that it will close the school unless teachers get rid of the union.
Today’s filing with the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) charges the school with unfair labor practices.
The complaint includes multiple charges such as unilateral change of working conditions to the detriment of the students, staff and the educational process. One post-election directive, for example, from a school administrator requires teachers to obtain prior authorization before speaking with their student's parents.
Teachers at the school are the first who work on a reservation to be represented by MEA and the National Education Association.
In New Mexico, 22 Native American tribes employ staff in schools represented by unions.
"The union stands for fairness and equity," Battaglieri said. "To say, 'We're closing the school because the teachers unionized," is shocking. What is the Sault Tribe afraid of?"
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