The UFT and Merrick Academy Charter School on Sept. 2 reached an agreement in the case of 11 staff members dismissed this summer by the school. The UFT charged that Merrick had fired the workers — who make up approximately one-third of the professional staff of the school — for union activity. The union had asked the state’s Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to order Merrick to rehire the fired staffers.
Under the terms of the agreement the UFT obtained the reinstatement of the teachers who wished to return to Merrick this fall. They will be reinstated at their old salaries. Other teachers and staff have had their cases resolved to their satisfaction. Further details of the settlement remain confidential.
UFT President Michael Mulgrew said, “Teachers have a right to organize and bargain collectively, and we are happy to have confirmed that right for Merrick’s staff.”
The case began this summer when the 11 staffers were fired — with no warning — by FedEx letter to their homes. The UFT asked PERB to seek a preliminary injunction requiring the reinstatement of the fired staffers. PERB then sought a court order requiring their reinstatement.
PERB’s request for an injunction was being heard in Albany County Supreme Court by Judge Eugene Devine. As part of the settlement, the Public Employment Relations Board has withdrawn its court action against Merrick.
Merrick’s employees voted to join the UFT in 2007. The Public Employment Relations Board certified the UFT as the teachers’ bargaining agent in March 2008. After repeated fruitless attempts to negotiate a contract, the UFT filed for a declaration of impasse with PERB December 2009 and five mediation sessions have taken place.
Merrick Academy is administered by Victory Schools, a for-profit operator, which charges $1.36 million in fees per year, more than 21 percent of the school’s total budget, on management fees. Victory Management operates a total of six schools in New York City earning $4.41 million in fees per year.
2 Comments:
1 Bob Calder
· Sep 2, 2010 at 9:48 pm
The difference between a charter and LA Unified:
The Charter uses Federal Express and the School Board notifies them using the newspaper.
The similarity: The folks that made the mistakes should be fired but it won’t happen. Like NASA, it’s a social pathology.
2 phyllis c. murray
· Sep 4, 2010 at 9:23 am
The words “The long arc of the universe bends toward justice,” is often attributed to the Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. I recently learned that the original quote was written by the Unitarian minister Theodore Parker in 1853. It stated: “I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eyes reach but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice.”. I believe Parker and subsequently Dr. King and even President Obama were correct. Within the” arc” of the Constitution there are self-evident truths which all Americans should enjoy. These inalienable rights are life,liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Therefore as an American, and a UFT member, we can be assured of justice through due process. Please note that I applaud UFT President Michael Mulgrew for his intervention in the Merrick Case. Justice was served. Let this a reminder to all NYC teachers, Charter or non-Charter to join the union. And then stick with the union. We have a contract. Implement it. Abide by it. It means survival. Phyllis C. Murray,UFT 1963-present