WTU Retirees, Wrongfully Terminated and other affected union workers should show support for union democracy; Come to tomorrow's hearing!

Holdover WTU President Parker & His Executive Board Use Union Dues to Attack AFT & Our Fellow WTU Brothers’ and Sisters’ Right to Vote – Support Democracy, Our Fallen Comrades, and AFT By Coming to Federal Court Tomorrow Morning at 9 am.

Washington, DC -Tomorrow, August 31, The American Federation of Teachers’ President Randi Weingarten will advocate for the democratic rights of the 4000 rank and file teachers to hold an election.  AFT and Weingarten say, “WTU’s holdover President George Parker[‘s]” “ever-escalating obstructionism” and “failure to conduct an election in accordance with the WTU constitution” allow him to maintain office in violation of the constitution, bylaws, and federal law.  AFT court filings verify that Parker is stalling the election and trying to alter the electorate for political purposes.  Court documents show overwhelming evidence that Parker’s entrenchment in office and actions are harming WTU members. 

Examples of Parker’s misdeeds, confirmed by court filings, include:

·         Ordering WTU’s attorneys to advocate for the disenfranchisement of all of our recently separated brothers and sisters by denying them the right to vote in the upcoming election;

·         Providing misinformation about the election through “robocalls” so as to confuse teachers about the voting process;

·         Convincing DCPS that it is proper to prohibit AFT from informing WTU members about the current election process on DCPS property; and

·         Convincing DCPS that it is proper to refuse to authorize the leave of absence for Vice President Saunders, potentially removing him from office and the ballot so Saunders cannot run for WTU President.

Parker’s action have been so extreme that AFT is forced to pay for advertising in the City Paper and other media outlets to inform members of the upcoming election as opposed to the free school bulletin board.  The pattern is clear.  Parker has turned on our fellow union members, the WTU election committee, and now the AFT and Weingarten just to benefit himself. 

AFT describes “the holdover officers of WTU [as] thwarting the will of both their members and the AFT’s constitutionally-stated commitment to union democracy.”  AFT has shown a “commitment to union democracy” ―won’t you?  Please attend tomorrow’s hearing to show your support.

The US District Court for District of Columbia

Judge Colleen Kollar Kotelly

WTU v. AFT, Civil Action No. 1:10-cv-01383 CKK

The United States District Court of D.C. is part of the U.S. Federal Gov333 Constitution Avenue N.W.
Washington D.C. 20001

Courtroom 28A at 9 am

The Courthouse is located at Third Street and Constitution Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C. It is located one block west of the United States Capitol. The building faces Constitution Avenue where Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues have merged. There are two convenient METRO subway stations within walking distance to the Courthouse: Judiciary Square (Red Line) which is located at the east side of 4th Street between D & E Streets and Archives-Navy Memorial (Yellow Line) which is located at 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue.

All available teachers, including retirees, please attend tomorrow’s hearing to show support for our fellow union brothers and sisters and union democracy.

Please note:  We recognize the emotional nature of this hearing but please show the Court the proper respect and observe all courtroom decorum.