CAT Tracks for June 16, 2002 CONTEMPT...AND BEYOND!

LATE PAYMENT OF DOCK DAYS

In the last edition of CAT Tracks, I indicated that a grievance had been filed over the District's refusal to reimburse teachers wrongly docked a day's pay when the District aribitrarily and unilaterally reduced all teachers' sick days by one for misbehaving and going out on strike for 17 days. (Superintendent Isom indicated that unnamed central office personnel did this against his wishes, but that it could not be corrected according to the provisions of the contract because the Director of Finance and Payroll was "on vacation".)

In the aforementioned CAT Tracks, I indicated that the District would probably show their contempt and not schedule a grievance hearing until June 14th...the date that they had indicated they would reimburse the affected teachers...something that SHOULD have been done on June 3rd! Well...I was wrong! The superintendent STILL has not scheduled the meeting...even though it was required by the contract. So...another grievance has been filed...for not responding to the first grievance. Geez...

What's the point? If they ignored the first grievance, why file another? The District is producing a paper trail that in the end will come back to haunt them. When arbitrators and courts are called upon to make decisions and hand down judgments...they look at the facts. This District shows such blatant disregard of contracts, laws, and their own Board policy...that any impartial party will see them for what they are and rule accordingly.

It's the old saying: "Give them enough rope..."

Incidentally, I will have more on this topic in the near future.

LATE...AGAIN

And speaking of paychecks...

I have received complaints...once again...that bargaining unit members are receiving paychecks late. Well...that's not quite true. At least one bargaining unit member STILL HAS NOT RECEIVED A PAYCHECK!

According to Section 4.2 of the contract, "During the summer, checks shall be mailed so that they will normally reach employees on the appropriate pay date."

During the strike, many of you told me that you very seldom or never got your summer paychecks on time...that you just came to expect it and planned accordingly. You should not have to do this. It is the District's responsibility to abide by the provisions of the contract. We should not be apologetic or feel guilty for asking what is due us...especially in light of the "attitude" that they have clearly displayed towards you...that they do not appreciate you!

It is time to stand up for your rights...ALL of your rights. They are searching for any and all "nasties" to "do unto you"! Show them that you do not intend to sit idly by while they "punish you" for standing up to their unreasonable actions. If they don't do what they are obligated to do according to the contract...don't ignore it...don't just complain about it...GRIEVE IT!

If you are reading this, then you have web access. Use the web site to e-mail your grievance to the Association...give the particulars. The Association will file a grievance on your behalf...or a class action grievance on behalf of all affected. AGAIN...the paper trail is important to one and all. Let us show the District for what it is...totally out of control!

As has become so very obvious during the past two months...the District is determined to break the teachers' union. They have failed because every effort that they make to divide us has brought us closer together...made us stronger. We need to show them that they are NOT dealing with a bunch of "pussycats" or "scaredycats"...that they have a real CAT fight on their hands...a fight that they will lose.

As the strike slogan put it most aptly...CATs can and do land on their feet!

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

The regular meeting of the Cairo Board of Education is this Thursday evening, June 20th, at 5 p.m.