Cites 4 Distinct Acts: CSA Accuses City Of Unfair Practices

Cites 4 Distinct Acts
CSA Accuses City Of Unfair Practices

The Council of School Supervisors and Administrators filed four additional unfair labor practice charges against the city with the Public Employment Relations Board even as a mediator worked to produce a wage deal to replace an accord that expired three years ago.

JILL LEVY: Pans Klein's Broadway Shows. CSA had already moved against the city in March over a letter schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein wrote to Principals but not Assistant Principals or the other administrators CSA represents "in an attempt to divide the union," according to CSA President Jill S. Levy.

B-Q Day Confusion

The CSA leader said that the city issued conflicting orders for Principal attendance on Brooklyn-Queens Day. The United Federation of Teachers, which formerly had the day off, agreed as part of its contract last fall to have members attend staff development sessions on that day. "Our staff members have traditionally had Brooklyn-Queens Day off," Ms. Levy said. "We received mixed messages on coming in. Then, DOE was unwilling to negotiate on it. Their refusal to bargain with us on a mandated section of bargaining is why we filed."

In response, DOE spokesperson Keith Kalb said, "It's unfortunate that CSA has chosen to devote time and energy to frivolous legal claims rather than getting back to the bargaining table to negotiate a contract."

Another charge contends that the city has failed to turn over financial information that CSA needs in order to negotiate properly.

"We asked them, as usual, for financial information we believe we are entitled to, so we can respond," the CSA leader said. "We never got it." She declined to elaborate on what the city would not provide.

The third new allegation concerns a meeting the Chancellor held to discuss some of his school reforms Saturday, April 21. The meeting was not mandatory, but Mr. Klein offered tickets for a number of Broadway shows to Principals who chose to attend.

"It's very clear," Ms. Levy said. "The Chancellor's offering of free theater tickets is, in effect, compensation, and therefore a mandatory subject of bargaining."

Finally, the CSA also alleges that a number of changes announced earlier this month in the expansion of the schools' Empowerment Zones may not be unilaterally imposed.

"There are many aspects of this that we believe could infringe on our contract," Ms. Levy said. "We need answers, so we can know how best to protect our members."

The CSA and DOE were due to meet June 27, as this newspaper hits the stands, with a mediator in an effort to end the nearly three years the union has worked under an expired contract.