Here’s an update on the former teacher at The Chicago Math and Science Academy who was fired last June for being one of the school’s union organizers. Not only was she fired after receiving a $1500.00 performance bonus and a contract renewal, they fired her when she was 8 months pregnant. As a result of the firing, Rhonda Hartwell had to have her baby earlier than planned in order for her insurance to cover the costs before the boys booted her off of their insurance plan.

Frankly, we do not think that a $40,000 settlement is even close to the amount that Ms. Hartwell should have received, especially when they have already shelled out over $113,000 in legal fees to fight the union. And again, this is money that the taxpayers are paying – including some of the very teachers that they are fighting against.

And how much has  CMSA spent on immigration fees in the past few years to bring over unqualified and overpaid Turkish teachers who undoubtedly were part of the anti-union movement at the school?

We applaud Ms. Hartwell and the other teachers who decided that they were fed up with being discriminated against and demanded fair and equitable treatment, and decent wages. 

The story is below:

http://aftacts.org/charter-news/151-charter-school-agrees-to-settlement-for-pregnant-teacher-who-was-fired-for-organizing-union

Charter School Agrees to Settlement For Pregnant Teacher Who Was Fired for Organizing Union

CHICAGO—The Chicago Math and Science Academy, a public charter school, has agreed to a $40,000 back-pay settlement to a highly regarded teacher who was fired in June after she helped organize a union at the school.

Rhonda Hartwell, who was eight months pregnant at the time she was fired, had been actively involved in organizing a union at the school. Hartwell was fired just after she received a $1,500 performance bonus and a contract renewal. She had to move up her scheduled delivery to ensure it occurred before her health insurance was cut off. The case was settled in mediation.

“CMSA is adamantly opposed to the union organizing effort and used this teacher as a scapegoat. Its scheme to use an illegal scare tactic backfired—CMSA teachers want a union more than ever to have a voice in working and learning conditions without fear of reprisal,” said Dan Montgomery, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. “This case illustrates clearly just why having a union is so critical.”

Since the teachers filed for representation, CMSA has spent over $113,000 of taxpayers’ money in legal fees to fight the union.

“There is no accountability here for the way taxpayer dollars are being spent. The school claims it is a private employer, but make no mistake, these are public dollars that could be better spent helping children succeed,” Montgomery said.

School officials continue to challenge the teachers’ right to form a union, even though the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board certified the Chicago Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff (Chicago ACTS) as their exclusive bargaining representative in November. Two-thirds of the teaching staff—well over the majority required by law—signed union authorization cards to be represented by Chicago ACTS.

The school continues to claim its teachers are private employees subject to the National Labor Relations Act. The National Labor Relations Board is expected to rule on the matter soon. Chicago ACTS, which represents teachers at a dozen Chicago-area charter schools, is an affiliate of the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers.