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Dissension in DPS ranks over contract talks

Many teachers want settlement

By Nancy Mitchell, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 15, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Some Denver teachers are going public with their anger over increasingly heated talks between their union and the city school district.

But it's not the district they're upset about; it's their own union.

"I honestly felt very intimidated," Jessica Buckley, a teacher at Harrington Elementary in north Denver, said after attending a union meeting Thursday night.

"The majority of teachers I've talked to want a settlement," Buckley said. "I feel the union is not representing the majority."

She cited the presence of the National Education Association and envelopes of cash given to schools as "incentives" for teachers to pass out fliers explaining the union's side of the dispute.

Buckley "must have been at a different meeting," said Kim Ursetta, president of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association. "We said at least three times, our goal is to get a settlement."

Thursday's meeting was a gathering of Denver school union representatives before the union and DPS resume pay negotiations next week. They're slated for three days of talks ending Aug. 22.

That's two days before the start of the Democratic National Convention and rumors are swirling that the union may call a strike while the spotlight is on Denver.

Ursetta denied that Thursday, saying the union's goal is to bring a settlement to an all-city teachers' meeting set for Aug. 24 at South High School.

She said recent efforts, such as a $10,000 radio ad campaign running through the weekend, are intended to tell the union's side of the contract dispute.

The NEA is assisting the union, Ursetta said, and a retired NEA spokesman who lives in Colorado did attend Thursday's meeting. The envelopes of cash are meant to buy doughnuts for teachers passing out fliers.

"We have 3,000 teachers in Denver," Ursetta said of teacher dissension, "so you're always going to have differing opinions on any issue that comes up."

Buckley and more than 275 teachers signed a petition at

denverteachersforchange.org, voicing concern with the union's handling of contract talks.

"I feel we as teachers need to step forward and make it clear how we feel as the majority," she said. "We need a settlement. We need to focus on the kids."

Comments

  • August 15, 2008

    5:39 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    JohnQAdams writes:

    Dissension? One individual that was obviously planted there by management comes out with a differing view, what a joke article this is. Is this an ad for the teachers that have chosen to kiss up to management by signing a petition? Its time for Teachers to stand up for yourselves, ignore the management operatives that are trying to derail your efforts. A strike during the DNC would be very effective in sending a message, the Boston Cops were able to get a resolution during the DNC in Boston. Its a shame that the 275 that have decided to sell-out their co-workers get so much attention when there is over 3000 teachers trying to get what they deserve.

  • August 15, 2008

    6:09 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mike846 writes:

    The Big Brother NEA is heavily involved, eh? God forbid ANYONE, no matter how small the group, actually go against the "party line" put out by the union. And passing out cash to give "incentives" for people passing out leaflets? What would be the headline if "management" was passing out cash to distribute THEIR point of view? Why, we'd have huge headlines, an article citing the corruption that this tactic exemplifies, questioning its ethics and on and on. The NEA has gone the way of all unions historically. They become bigger business than the businesses they started out to organize, and just as corrupt. This isn't about pay or benefits. This is about power. And they wonder why they can't retain new teachers for very long? Why they don't want to join? And almost 10% are willing to put their jobs on the line by signing a petition? That tells me the opposition is bigger than the union bosses want to admit. Just watch the tactics they use at the Convention nears. Just watch. Mike

  • August 15, 2008

    8:02 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LatkaGravitz writes:

    The NEA is an Association, not a union. . .
    kind of like, "we're not a gang, we're a club".

  • August 15, 2008

    10:37 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    BetterEducated writes:

    I'm so frustrated that it seems we can't get a straight answer about the actual figures!!!
    Without that information, it's imposible to get a grip on just Who is off-kilter in this dispute.
    It's as though we are looking at two entirely different analyses of the exact same facts. One of them has to be correct. Or, more correct than the other, anyway!
    Is it me?!!
    Rocky, I sure hope you are working on a third -- OBJECTIVE -- analysis of the figures. A Helpful Hint: If you can't get one side or the other to settle on its figures, that should tell you something.
    If you can't analyze these figures yourself...would you please call somebody who can? I will personally volunteer (and immediately turn it over to some better person).

  • August 15, 2008

    6:44 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    MIKANE20 writes:

    At what point will the Rocky Mountain News print a story that presents the point of view of professional teachers who want to do what is best for the students? What is best for the students? Qualified and experienced teachers who view teaching in DPS as a long term career. Teachers who support the district's proposal are short sighted and I really have to wonder whether they see themselves teaching in DPS 15-20 years from now. I do. That is why I am supporting my union. Oh, and I am a teacher on ProComp.

  • August 17, 2008

    12:55 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    MIKANE20 writes:

    Dear Rocky Mountain News,

    Earlier this summer I received a letter from Denver Teachers for Change at my home address. This is very curious, because to date, no one from that organization has been willing to tell me who gave them my personal contact information.

    Is this organization a branch of the district which is acting illegally to undermine my legal right to collective bargaining? If so, how can the district justify using public funds in this way?

    Is this organization merely an interested third party? If so, I never gave my employer the right to release personal contact information to third parties. Whoever authorized the release of my personal information should be held accountable. What other private information is the district willing to release to interested third parties? Is this legal?

    Please investigate this end of the story.

  • August 17, 2008

    7:31 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    BetterEducated writes:

    Yes, PLEASE investigate that end of the story.

  • August 18, 2008

    5:58 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    lcount writes:

    This group represents a small minority of teachers and yes, this side of the story does need to be investigated. I have sent emails to the group in question and received no information back regarding how they got my home address and telephone number. In addition, I would like to know who is funding this group. Mailing costs and duplicating costs are not inexpensive and if the district is funding it that is not an authorized use of my taxpayer money. The paper needs to look into a few of these things to present a truly balanced story.

  • August 18, 2008

    8:42 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    BetterEducated writes:

    "You do not have the 'legal right to collective bargaining' because you work for the Denver Public Schools." This from a veteran of the workforce.

  • August 18, 2008

    10:50 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    MIKANE20 writes:

    Oh. Thanks BetterEducated.

  • August 21, 2008

    11:21 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    mathmom writes:

    It's hard to stand idly by when you see the Union stomping on the possibility of the district doing the right thing by and for the teachers. The Union is complaining that the plan is not fair to the "long-time" teachers...the same teachers who will someday soon retire and leave. What will they leave behind? If everything stays the same, they will leave nothing...no one...as the newer teachers cannot afford to stay in the profession that they worked so hard to join! People have to look beyond the mentality of "doing their time" and realize that building capacity to sustain and grow the district into one that parents want their children to attend is far more important. The Union needs to swallow their pride and welcome the new age and the newer teachers into the fold. If things stay the same, the newer teachers will continue to come and go as they cannot afford to stay. There were other teachers in the meeting who didn't speak out for fear of reprisal. Buying votes for something that is wrong is wrong in it of itself! Leaving students without a teacher is unforgivable. I applaud the teachers who may seem to be few but are really many who will stay with their students no matter what the Union says. Last I checked this is a free country where we are all allowed our opinion. Best wishes to the Denver Teachers for Change, and best wishes to everyone for a great school year!