Two days after the Teacher’s Association of Long Beach and Long Beach Unified School District exchanged initial proposals to start bargaining for a new contract for teachers, the statewide union that charters TALB to represent its membership has changed how the negotiations will proceed.

 

David A Sanchez, the President of the California Teacher’s Association, has sent a letter and email to all members of the Teacher’s Association of Long Beach that informs Long Beach Unified School District teachers that their union is being put into trusteeship.  According to the letter from Sanchez the decision to place TALB into trusteeship was unanimous by the CTA Executive Officers.

 

Click here for a copy of the letter.

 

Those following the series of Posts I have had on TALB know the deep rift in the leadership of TALB; one side of the rift consists of Executive Director Scott McVarish and President Michael Day and their supporters on the TALB Representatives Council; the other side is led by nine members of the TALB Board of Directors most visibly by Second Vice-President Marc Hyatt and Board Member Dale McVey with their support from some Rep Council members.

 

“It is CTA’s intent that local control of the chapter will be restored as soon as possible,” says Sanchez in his letter.  Until that transfer of control back to local TALB members can occur however the union will operate under the direction of former CTA President Barbara E. Kerr as the trustee.

 

What does this mean?  It means TALB decision and policy making has been transferred out of Long Beach and to the California Teachers Association.  It is similar to the situation the Queen Mary was in when bankruptcy was filed and a judge appointed a trustee.  By putting TALB in trusteeship, CTA is giving the trustee, Ms. Kerr, complete and final say in all matters regarding TALB business.  From approval of expenses, to calling of meetings, to staffing committees the trustee has the power to run the organization.  Depending on how long the trusteeship lasts and to what extent Ms. Kerr and the CTA want to follow up on complaints and accusations made by The Nine board members who have been initiating legal action against TALB for financial and membership records, the long term effect could be quite consequential to some members of TALB staff and leadership. 

 

While it appears that this move by CTA is necessary to quell the infighting at TALB, it is unfortunate that the quest for power and position by a few has resulted in this drastic measure.  For the sake of the thousands of teachers in the district and their students who rely on them for the quality education they receive on a daily basis, let’s hope CTA and Ms. Kerr are able to quickly assess the situation and implement strong corrective action so the union may once again be under local control.  Given the recent past and history of actions coming from McVarish’s office I further hope that when control is given back to the teachers more of them participate in the governance of their union and provide the ethical and moral leadership and communication that has led to this situation.

 

Your thoughts welcome, click here to email me or on “Leave A Comment” below for public response.

 

Letter from David A. Sanchez to members of the Teacher’s Association of Long Beach:

 

October 18, 2007

 

Dear TALB member,

 

Upon the unanimous recommendation of the CTA Executive Officers and consistent with CTA policies and procedures, the CTA Board of Directors  voted to place the Teachers Association of Long Beach into trusteeship effective immediately. This decision was not made lightly, but the Board  felt it had to be done to protect the integrity of TALB members and the  local association. It is CTAs intent that local control of the chapter will  be restored as soon as possible.  We had sincerely hoped that the mediation  process and other assistance provided by CTA would resolve the troubling  issues within TALB.  Once it became clear to me and the other CTA officers  that there was little chance this gridlock would end, we had no choice but  to establish trusteeship.

 

The CTA Board has appointed former CTA President Barbara E. Kerr to act as trustee.  I can think of few people with the universal respect that Barbara has earned in her years working for our members.   Ms. Kerr will bring her personal integrity and proven leadership to your difficult situation.

 

Assisting Ms. Kerr as deputy trustee is Michael Embree, a highly experienced and respected staff person.  Mr. Embree is a former NEA Midwest Regional Manager who has worked closely with staff and leadership in nine states.  Michael has an excellent reputation as a problem-solver and team builder.

 

Ms. Kerr and Mr. Embree will be in charge of the day-to-day operations of TALB and the supervision of employees.  The trustee is authorized to take any action necessary to protect the integrity of TALB and the interests of its members, including any and all decisions normally controlled by the TALB Executive Officers, the TALB Board of Directors, the TALB Representative Council, and the TALB Executive Director.

 

During this time of trusteeship all of the normal responsibilities of your local association, including preparing a successor contract proposal, will continue.  I want to assure you that CTA will base all of its decisions on protecting your rights as TALB and CTA members, while also taking steps to restore and rebuild a healthy, democratic union in Long Beach.

 

According to policy, the CTA Board of Directors will, within twenty working days, convene a hearing in Long Beach to review the trusteeship.  This hearing will be open to all TALB members.  The date, time, and location of this hearing will be provided to TALB members at least five working days prior to the hearing.  Since communication is so vital during this process, regular updates will be given to members.

 

Thank you in advance for your support and understanding. I am confident that under Barbara Kerr and Michael Embrees stewardship TALB will quickly return to being the unified, effective voice for all the hard-working educators in Long Beach.

 

A hard copy letter will follow in the mail.

 

Respectfully,

 

David A. Sanchez

President