Classified staff members looking to start a union at Benjamin Logan School District criticized the board of education while already unionized members of the certified staff aired a list of grievances against the superintendent and treasurer.
The statements came at a Monday evening board meeting that also included a presentation by members of the third-grade class and recognition of high school athletes.
Third-grade gifted students make a presentation to the Benjamin Logan Board of Education about the Penny Harvest fundraiser that generated $3,594 for local charities. (EXAMINER PHOTO | REUBEN MEES)
Approximately 70 members of the certified staff, including cooks, bus drivers, secretaries and educational aides, asked the board to directly recognize the union, but the board — through a lawyer — reportedly rejected the request April 2. The employees will now have to take their case before the State Employee Relations Board — likely in June, according to Marge Jenkins, president of the Benjamin Logan Education Association — the same union that will represent the classified staff if the current unionization attempt is successful.
If the SERB believes there is enough support for a union, ballots will be mailed to all affected employees and a majority of the returned ballots decides the vote. A direct recognition vote by the board would have bypassed the need for the vote and sped up the process.
“When you turned us down, that hit hard,” staff member Joyce Fish said of the rejection letter. “We are saddened that non-certified staff are treated like secondclass citizens.”
The teachers also aired a list of “serious concerns regarding the leadership of our school district,” according to a statement read by union executive member Bryan Knurek.
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