UFT Asks PERB for Right To Represent KIPP Staff

RANDI WEINGARTEN: Teachers seek respect, support.

The United Federation of Teachers Feb. 13 petitioned the state Public Employment Relations Board to grant it representation rights for the teaching staff at the KIPP AMP Academy in Brooklyn.

The union made its move once 30 days passed with no acknowledgement from KIPP's administration after most staff members expressed a desire to join the UFT, amid rumors of a campaign of intimidation against the organizing teachers.

Says KIPP Threatened Staff

"The UFT has repeatedly pledged to work cooperatively with KIPP, and we have sought meetings to discuss moving forward," said UFT President Randi Weingarten in a statement. "Rather than meet with us, however, the administrators at the school have engaged in a series of threatening actions against the teaching staff…we are really disappointed that neither the initial thoughts expressed by management about working together nor the KIPP motto of 'team and family' extend to the hard-working and dedicated teachers of the school."

Along with the PERB petition, the UFT has also filed improper practice charges against KIPP for holding what it describes as "captive audience" meetings with the teachers in which administrators tried to stop teachers from organizing by threatening their benefits and pensions, and distributed instructions on how to rescind their letters of intent to unionize. The UFT also accused KIPP of interfering in the creation of a Parent- Teacher Association last week.

The teachers' attempt to unionize at the charter school, one of four run by KIPP in the city, was spurred by high rates of turnover among staff coupled with the heavy workload that comes with school days that stretch from 7:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Teachers complained that children's trust in the program was destabilized by the frequent loss of staff, and said they wanted a basic contract that would mean administrators would need to provide just cause before dismissing an educator.

'Couldn't Be More Committed'

"These are terrific teachers, and they couldn't be more committed to their school community or their students," said Ms. Weingarten. "They just want a voice and respect and support, and they don't understand why KIPP is refusing to acknowledge that. This is a real test about whether KIPP respects the people who have made their schools great."

Ms. Weingarten reiterated that the union is willing to be flexible in its contract negotiations, as it is with other charter schools where it represents staff, the Green Dot school in The Bronx and the Amber Charter School in Manhattan. "We look forward to negotiating innovative provisions tailored to the KIPP schools and the needs of the kids and the staff," she said. "That really should be the next step, not litigation and delay."

Of the school's 19 teachers, 16 have signed union authorization cards asking for representation, officially noti- fying KIPP AMP's co-principals Jan. 13 of their actions. After that, KIPP had a legally mandated 30-day period in which it could voluntarily recognize the unionization, and with that deadline passing, the matter went to PERB.

Warned on Union 'Problem'

The first improper practice charge filed by the UFT says that Ky Adderly, a founding principal and current manager of KIPP AMP, directed all staff to a mandatory meeting right after the staff's letter was delivered. At the meeting, Mr. Adderly allegedly said that the union would be "a problem" and that the organization could result in "the state coming in and firing everyone." He then sat in on the union organizing committee's meeting with a notebook, observing who was at the meeting, before being asked to leave.

The charge then alleges that the school's management and the two co- Principals started to follow union organizing committee members with clipboards, taking notes on their actions. Later, in front of organizers, Mr. Adderly allegedly said loudly, "Have you ever gone sky-diving? No? It's fun to watch the people's faces after they jump—they think they're flying, but they're really just falling!"

The second charge states that at a Feb. 6 staff meeting, David Levin, another KIPP AMP founder and current superintendent, told staff that unionizing would mean that benefits, retirement, private pensions and maternity leave would "be in jeopardy," and that "all of that goes away."

He also distributed information on how to withdraw signed representation cards, giving out typed letters addressed to Ms. Weingarten stating: "I am a teacher at KIPP AMP Academy. I revoke the card I signed authorizing the union to represent me. I rescind permission for the union to use my name to demonstrate a showing of interest. Please return the card to me."