02-20-09 Kipp Amp Unionization Facts

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To:

Education Writers

From:

American Federation of Teachers, Public Affairs Department Tel. 202/879-4447 or [email protected]

Date:

February 20, 2009

Subject: KIPP AMP Unionization Facts As you know, the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) charter schools have achieved nationwide recognition of their work. In fact, in his just-released book, Jay Mathews writes glowingly of KIPP schools. However, we are concerned about events occurring at one KIPP school, and the questions they raise about KIPP. In a heated battle at a KIPP school in Brooklyn, N.Y., teachers are trying to join the United Federation of Teachers, and school administrators, in response, are waging a campaign to pressure and intimidate them. Teachers at KIPP AMP in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, love their school and have high hopes of strengthening it by giving teachers a stronger voice and creating a more collaborative work environment. However, since school administrators were informed on Jan. 13 that three-quarters of the school’s teachers had chosen to form a union, with the United Federation of Teachers as their representative, a disturbing side of the school administration has emerged. The school’s leadership has waged a campaign of intimidation that unfortunately has placed students in the crossfire of what should be a conversation between adults. KIPP’s philosophy of “team and family” has been thrown out the window. KIPP’s co-founder and head of schools Dave Levin said at first that he would work with the union, but he has yet to hold a meeting with union leaders. Soon after school leaders were notified of the teachers’ intent to form a union, an administrator met with the teachers and tried to pressure them into withdrawing their bid for a union, saying their benefits and pensions were in jeopardy. The school’s co-principals also have worked to intimidate teachers through increased surveillance, and have even shut down their usually open communication with teachers by not returning e-mails and text messages. Under the guise of discussing testing, school leaders met with students and asked them for “dirt” on the teachers who favor unionization. As inappropriate as that is on its face, the meeting also took place during the school day, interfering with instructional time. This behavior does not fit into KIPP’s five pillars: high expectations, choice and commitment, more time, power to lead and focus on results. The threatening actions against teachers not only damage the ongoing teaching and learning environment of the school, but also violate New York’s public employee relations law regarding administrators’ conduct. On Feb. 11, the union filed improper practice charges against school administrators for holding “captive audience” meetings with teachers in an effort to intimidate them and interfere with their unionization efforts. Because the teachers’ desire to have a formal voice in the school =

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decision-making process through a union was not recognized by administrators within the state’s 30-day deadline, last Friday the UFT petitioned the New York State Public Employment Relations Board to formally recognize the teaching staff at KIPP AMP as a collective bargaining unit. So far, 16 of the 19 teachers at the school have signed union cards. Teachers at the school and the union are disappointed by the actions of the school administrators, but they are nonetheless determined to work cooperatively with KIPP in the future. It is often assumed, incorrectly, that charter schools and unions don’t work well together. In fact, former AFT president Albert Shanker was one of the earliest champions of charter schools. He envisioned creating the kind of secure work environment that would encourage teacher-led laboratories of reform, innovation and risk-taking. Today, the AFT—the UFT’s parent organization—represents teachers at more than 70 charter schools across the country. UFT even runs two charter schools in Brooklyn and is a partner with Green Dot Public Schools in a third charter school in the Bronx. The AFT and the UFT are confident that unionizing KIPP AMP will strengthen the school. Randi Weingarten, who is both AFT and UFT president, says, “These are terrific teachers, and they couldn’t be more committed to their school community or their students. 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.” If you have any questions or would like to speak to any of the teachers at the school or to UFT representatives, contact us at 202/879-4447 or [email protected]. We would be glad to put you in touch with them.

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