VUSD Labor Law Violation

NEW HIRES THREATENED IF THEY JOIN VTA?

Rumors swirl that new teacher hires this year have been told that they better not join the union or they will not be re-elected (rehired) for next year.

If such statements were made by district personnel, it would be both a state and federal labor law violation.

NEW HIRES ENCOURAGED TO TELL THEIR STORIES

Anyone who knows a new hire is encourage to talk with them and post their story on this blog, . The stories should not have any detail which identifies the individuals involved.

Why?

Because under current California law a probationary hire (new teachers for first two years) may be let go without being given any reason whatsoever, a dishonorable VUSD administer could privately decide to terminate solely if a new hire is a union member and for no other reason. However should they give this as a reason or join in a conspiracy of others at the district office, it would be a major violation of labor law.

Hard do believe that could happen in this day and age but sadly it is possible. The only recourse is to tell the tales on line anonymously and hope for a National Labor Relations Board investigation or state equivalent.

MASSIVE LAWSUIT POSSIBLE

The district could be leaving itself exposed to massive lawsuits if this allegation proves to be true. No threats are allowed under labor law regarding new hires joining a union. A threat of dismissal if substantiated would be worse. Millions of dollars of VUSD money could be at risk. Let’s hope the Bales administration is smart enough to know this, if not let’s document it. Certainly the main supporter of Bales on the Board, Stephen Guffanti, has very negative views about unions.

GUFFANTI CALLS UNIONS 'THE PROBLEM'

Dr. Stephen Guffanti (our VUSD election opposition) has stated in a NCTimes "commentary" that unions are the problem in public schools and strongly implied he would like to eliminate them.(Teachers unions hurt the schools, January 24, 2001)

GUFFANTI SAYS TEACHERS DON'T WANT TO WORK

Dr. Guffanti is also infamous for implying that VUSD teachers are lazy and do not want to work in the following quote from his November 26, 2007 NCTimes commentary entitled Vista Making Progress (under Bales): "Not everyone is willing to change, so some leave and some remain but resist. I can understand why the teachers union objects. Literacy is great for kids, but it means more work for the teacher." Read the rest of his commentary here:
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/11/27/opinion/commentary/22_04_0911_26_07.txt>

JIM GIBSON CALLS FOR FIRING 10% OF VUSD TEACHERS EVERY YEAR

Jim Gibson (current VUSD board president) has said he likes the Jack Welch model of firing 10% of the work force per year and believes such a policy be implemented in our schools.

"Schools failing without accountability" by Jim Gibson VUSD board president May 20, 2007
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/05/20/perspective/15_87_545_19_07.txt

GUFFANTI SUPPORTER AGREES WITH GIBSON, FIRE 10% OF THE TEACHERS

Here is what a Gibson/Guffanti supporter wrote in the online comment section following the article above:

Reardon (supports VUSD board candidates Guffanti, Anderson and Fernandez)
[-] wrote on May 19, 2007 9:33 PM: ….We are testing the hell out of the students -- but no one is grading the teachers! California education standards …. Measures (sic) the students without daring to measure the teachers. You can't tell me that of the hundreds of thousands of public school teachers in California over the past two decades that only a handful have been fired for incompetence -- the Law of Averages will tell me that more than that number have become stark, raving mad! The bottom 10% is the least that should be fired -- yearly!

Read more similar comments from Guffanti/Gibson supporters at this URL:
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/05/20/perspective/15_87_545_19_07.txt

THE ANTI-PUBLIC EDUCATION SLATE OF HATE

Remember that Jim Gibson and the ANTI-public education group supports the following candidates for VUSD Board. This slate of ANTIs have similar negative views and destructive goals for public education in VUSD. Here are the ANTI-public education candidates:
ANTI-public ed--Dr. Stephen Guffanti
ANTI public ed--Eileen Fernandez
ANTI public ed--Patty Anderson (Johnson)—try an advanced search in NCTimes archives for her letters to the editor posted under her married name variations of Patricia A. Johnson, Patricia Johnson, and Patty Johnson for a SCARY eye opener!

PRO-PUBLIC ED CANDIDATES- JAKA, LILLY, CHUNKA

If you want respect as a teacher again and board members who believe in PUBLIC education and FACT based science, history and sex education, then you need to get out and support:

PRO Education—ELIZABETH JAKA
PRO Education—ANGELA CHUNKA
PRO Education—STEVE LILLY

Only TWENTY ONE DAYS for YOU TO STOP our board from having a majority of teacher hating, anti-public education trustees.

Call VTA today. 760-758-2690 or email vistata@aol.com

VOLUNTEER NOW

After November 4th should the ANTI group win, there will be nothing that can be easily done. If such a terrible outcome should happen, look forward to far more Bales Busy Work and unfettered teacher harassment.

Elections matter!