Labor & Employment Law

Fired Central Falls Teachers Sue School District

By James Parks

The union representing more than 90 teachers and staff at Central Falls (R.I.) High School who were fired last February filed suit yesterday against the school district. The suit comes after school officials made clear that the fired teachers and school staff were not being returned to their jobs. Instead, they have been ordered to reapply, along with all new applicants, for positions at the school.

Jane Sessums, president of the Central Falls Teachers Union (CFTU), an affiliate of AFT, said:

We are disappointed that it has come to this. We have been attempting to work with Superintendent Frances Gallo, and will continue to work with her to deal with the issues. The union is committed to improving teaching and learning at the school. However, we took this action today because we believe that the fundamental rights of the staff at Central Falls High School were violated and require legal redress.

The Central Falls school trustees fired the entire teaching staff of the high school on Feb. 23. Gallo agreed March 3 to resume bargaining and include the union in all discussions on a comprehensive education plan that will help students and teachers succeed. The move followed a nationwide public outcry, with thousands signing an online petition to tell school officials the students deserve better and they should work with teachers to build on improvements at the high school. (Keep the pressure on the Central Falls school administration. Sign a petition here.)

Sessums said the union has always maintained that these firings were arbitrary, lacked any documented justification and constituted a clear violation of federal law, due process rights and the existing contract.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on April 29, 2010 (boomark / email).