“It was laughable. It was ridiculous.”
I guess I’m not the only one who thought the Washington Teachers Union’s oral arguments in its lawsuit against the DC Public Schools were a bit, well, unorthodox (see item #4 in yesterday’s communique’). The laid-off teachers being represented thought so, too.
Crystal Proctor is one of several teachers who say union lawyers were not well prepared in court when they argued in favor of reinstating the more than 250 teachers. “We don’t think that the legal representation was competent,” says Proctor. “Watching our attorney perform, it was laughable. It was ridiculous.”
Natasha Mason says she didn’t get replies when she sent emails to her union representative. She says she’s gotten “nothing” out of her membership. “I’m totally disappointed,” says Mason. “It’s a pity we’ve been paying all this money into people to protect us and represent us and to stand up for what our rights are. None of it has been done.”
Several teachers hired private attorneys to file appeals. Yes, you can hire an attorney without a union being involved. Who knew?
December 7th, 2009 at 16:48
Generally speaking, when it comes to lawsuits about terminations bargaining unit members are free to hire their own attorneys. When it comes to grievances (contract enforcement) private attorneys can only be hired with the consent (rarely given) of the union.