Friday, October 2, 2009

Parliamentarian

RIF - Reduction in Force

I think that one of the most important things to know for the 266 teachers who have received termination letters, is that they know about their right(s) to appeal. They have 30 days within which they can file an appeal with the D.C. Office of Employee Appeals.

In the meantime, they need to know that the WTU is in the process of filing a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) in the court system, so that a judge can put a temporary halt to the termination action by the DCPS. During the time of the halt (assuming that the TRO is successful), then the WTU and the AFT can research every case to see if any teachers were terminated illegally. The DCPS has a history of process violations, so I'm sure there were errors. The DCPS is at fault for not giving the WTU advance notice of the RIF. I think our current contract states that, "In cases of a RIF, the DCPS will inform the WTU." I think the purpose of this is so that the WTU can play a watchdog role to monitor each step in the RIF process, to notify the DCPS if they are violating the contract during the process.

Mayor Fenty and Chancellor Rhee are working together on this RIF, however Council Chair Vincent Gray has stated that, "According to my math, the city council has approved a budget for the DCPS to have enough money to the point that there shouldn't be any RIFs. He personally signed-off on the funds. And he also wants to know, "How can you conduct a RIF and terminate 266 teachers, while at the same time hire 900 new teachers?"

See you at the Rally at Freedom Plaza on Oct. 8, 2009, 4:30pm.
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