New Contract Bars Supervisor Harassment

Dec 11, 2002 4:08 PM

Over the last few years your executive board has received some disturbing telephone calls regarding harassment by a small number of special education and speech supervisors.

Until our new contract took effect, our chapter was stymied, advising members to keep logs, make the best of it or, when things were really offensive, try to switch to another school or district. But now we've got a real weapon to wield. With Article 23, we won a special, expedited complaint procedure - filed directly with the chancellor - in cases when supervisors are harassing us.

And we've seen some pretty egregious patterns of behavior - some so bad that it drove three speech teachers to transfer to a different speech supervisor. The executive board has heard about speech teachers being screamed at, pointed at, called stupid, insulted, threatened, made to turn against a peer, and told to find a different career after completing a master's degree. Most of this behavior took place in front of colleagues, adding embarrassment to insult. Now we have the ability to go after such abhorrent behavior - and we won't hesitate to do so.

On October 7, our first general membership meeting will focus on the harassment clause and this year's Speech Chapter agenda. Please come.

Give us a call if you're harassed or know that harassment is occurring. We'll give you a notebook to log inappropriate, unprofessional behavior. (You never know when the tide may change and you will be the victim.) It's time to act as true unionists and support each other!