Teachers at Cesar Chavez Prep Middle School staged a picket Friday afternoon after owner Cesar Chavez Schools allegedly committed more than 50 breaches of federal labor law during bargaining over a union contract. In June, Chavez teachers voted overwhelmingly to unionize with the District of Columbia Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff (DC-ACTS) by a 31-2 majority to win more resources for kids, a say in school decision-making, a consistent and high-quality curriculum and job security. “After winning our union election with an overwhelming majority, we were ready to work with the administration to help our kids succeed,” said science teacher Christian Herr. “We were inspired in our two-year organizing effort by Cesar Chavez’s legendary labor victories in the fields of California. Unfortunately, Chavez Schools has trampled on Cesar’s legacy and the school’s students by failing to take our victory, and the collective bargaining process, seriously. That is a clear violation of federal law, a violation Cesar would have been appalled by.” The union, which is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), filed unfair labor practice charges on Thursday.
photo by Brett Sherman/AFT
photo by Brett Sherman/AFT