Sherri Brown’s Open Letter To EVSC School Board Members

To EVSC School Board members,

Thank you for the opportunity to speak at Monday’s meeting. I figured that after approximately 1 and 1/2 hours listening to speakers it probably becomes difficult to remember everything that was said. I tried to find the minutes for the meeting but could not find any. I looked at the EVSC Schools website, but could only find Dr. Smith’s comments. How do you review what happens at the meetings? How do you know you didn’t miss or forget something important? How does anyone check back and review history? Are public speakers mentioned? Are there any records as to what these speakers said? If there is not record of public input then the minutes are not actually a complete and accurate reflection of what transpired at the meeting. Are there minutes somewhere? If so, would you please tell me how to find them?

I, honestly, do not know what protocol is pertaining to public comments. I do know that I would not have spoken unless I felt the issues were important and that my comments would be of value. For this reason I am sending you a copy of my comments. I thought this would especially be of value to the two board members who could not be present at Monday’s meeting. I know many people are worried about viruses so I am copying and pasting my comments instead of sending them as an attachment.

One new item-while doing research I ended up on the City-County Observer website. They had recently filed a Freedom of Information Request concerning the most current EVSC Superintendent employment contract, and they provided a link to that contract. As you must be aware this is a 5 page document. I would like to draw you attention to Item 9 on page 5. It states:

If during the term of this contract, it is found that a specific clause of the contract is illegal under federal or state law, the remainder of the contract not affected by such a ruling shall remain in force.

I am not a lawyer, but doesn’t it seem that this item totally takes care of your concerns pertaining to taking union dues out of employees’ paychecks. One simple sentence. If you are truly concerned about what impact future laws might have on the deducting of union dues, is this not the answer? Why did you put it in Dr. Smiths contract, but not consider putting it into the Teamster contract? It appears that you have been engaged in a fight for several months over an issue that you already resolved. And, I might add, it didn’t cost the taxpayers thousands of extra dollars for an expensive Indianapolis lawyer to do so. It is almost elegant in its simplicity. Can someone explain this?

And last but not least, would you please respond in some way so that I know you did, in fact, receive this email read it. I have been told that the board member are not opening emails from their constituents. I have not accepted this as the truth because it is just too awful to be true. Any response will work. I hope and pray I get a response from each of you. Again, thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,
Sherri Brown

The EVSC decision to walk away from negotiations with corporation employees on June 30, 2015 shows how extreme the assault on workers bargaining rights has become.

The EVSC has refused to conduct further negotiations with IBT 215 because the union would not agree to school corporation proposals dealing with union security and the grievance procedure.  With respect to the grievance procedure, EVSC reportedly has refused to continue negotiations with Teamsters Local 215 because the employees want to preserve the right to have an independent arbitrator determine the final disposition of employee grievances.  Arbitration as a final step of the grievance procedure is a fundamental contract provision and is common in both the private and public sector.

EVSC wants to strip arbitration rights and have the School Board become the final arbiter of all employee grievances.  This is the same School Board that already seems to rubber stamp Administration decisions.   This type of proposal is union busting at its core.  If management takes action against an employee, the employee appeal should not be limited to the one who took the action in the first place.

Basic fairness calls for an independent arbitrator to determine the outcome of employee grievances.  Sadly, the EVSC Board seems to have taken a cue from the Indiana State Legislature with respect to the assault on collective bargaining rights in public education.

Tri-State Jobs With Justice stands with IBT Local 215.  We ask the members of the EVSC Board to stop the union busting and to bargain in good faith with IBT Local 215.

Tri-State Jobs With Justice is an organization that brings together labor, education, community and faith voices to protect and advance the rights of working people in the Tri-State.

FOOTNOTE: THIS ARTICLE WAS POSTED WITHOUT BIAS, OPINON OR EDITING.