Retirees Stand with Educators

I joined the Alliance/AFT press conference at 313 Centre Street in Dallas on January 30. The President of the educator's association, Rena Honea, told a gaggle of reporters that she was proud to have the Texas Alliance for Retired Americans standing up to be counted along with the teachers. The press conference was used to denounce bullying tactics by administrators at the Dallas Independent School District. They have recently announced, without consulting the teachers, the closings of a lot of schools. They also mandated a 45-minute extension of each teachers' workday. President Honea pointed out that the extension is administrative, not student contact time. A young 4th grade teacher, Joseph Drake, had complained in an angry e-mail to one of the school board members, Dr Flores, and had been summarily placed on administrative leave the next day. They took Drake right out of his classroom!

The teachers association responded almost immediately. They called a press conference. The Dallas AFL-CIO put out a call for support. The Texas Organizing Project, a community group, and the Texas Alliance were proud to respond.

President Honea and the assembled teacher association leaders demanded that Mr. Drake be allowed back to work, and that the DISD Administration stop their bullying tactics. That very afternoon, Drake was re-instated! Three days later, the Dallas newspaper reported that Dr. Flores had sent an apology to Mr Drake. 

All over America, we are seeing attacks against teachers and other public employees. The Alliance/AFT showed how to put together a proper response and win a minor victory. We were proud to be with them!