Judge orders striking Marysville teachers back to work on Wednesday

The Seattle Times ^ | Seattle Times staff | Monday, October 20, 2003

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

A Snohomish County Superior Court judge this morning ordered striking Marysville teachers back to work on Wednesday.

Judge Linda Krese ruled that the strike, now in its state-record 49th day, is illegal. She told teachers to return to school and work under the terms of their previous contract until they can hammer out a new one with the school district.

"Even with teachers back to work this contract needs to get settled," Krese said. "It's time for all the adults to grow up and look at their obligations to these children."

The 650-member Marysville Education Association voted to strike Sept. 1. Schools in the 11,000-student district have not yet opened for the year.

MEA President Elaine Hanson said the union will meet at at 6:30 tonight and decide whether to continue the strike.

"We still have no contract," Hanson said. "The school board needs to bring a contract that works. It's the school board's responsibility."

School Board President Helen Mount called the ruling a "good thing for the students of Marysville."

"We regret it had to come to this point, but we had to get our kids back in school," Mount said. "We know our teachers are professional, and when they come back will do a good job."

Krese recessed the hearing this morning to evaluate penalties for violating her order.

Monday's hearing stemmed from complaints by a parents group and the district. Both sought an injunction to end the strike; the parents group, called Tired of the Strike, asked for fines of up to $250 a day for every teacher who violates a court order to return to work.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Finally someone has had the courage to take a teacher's strike to court. It's illegal in this state for state employees to strike. The teachers get the majority of their pay from the state general fund.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

bump

[CyberCowboy777]

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[Eva]

The quality of public school education is inversely proportionate to the growth of the NEA.

I have a proposal to do a kind of end around play on the NEA. My plan stems from an article that I once read in the Los Angeles Times that described a professional as one who follows a career which necessitates a university degree and puts public service before financial remuneration. By this definition there can be no such thing as a professional union.

I propose that we have two levels of teachers, a professional level and a union level. The professional level would be paid at a higher rate, would work a year around schedule and would be expected to work a professional work day, from eight to five. The union level teacher would continue to work the union schedule at union wages and would be supervised by a professional in each department. The schools would be operated on a year around basis with summer sessions being offered by the professional level teachers. Special class offerings in AP classes, the arts, athletics, FFA, as well as remedial classes could be offered by professional level teachers.

Students could be offered the option of completing their education in less than the usual twelve years, or offered the possibility of attending year around classes on a part time basis while taking classes at a technical school or working part time or staying in school and receiving college credit for high school work. Schools which opted for this program could open their summer courses to students from outside the district for a fee.

The benefits of this type of program would be that the local school district would regain control of curriculum; better teachers would be inspired by the more professional level of pay; the choices and opportunities that would be offered to students would be greatly multiplied and hopefully inspire them to excellence. At the same time the union wage positions would still be open to teachers who prefer the shorter hours and long vacations while raising a family of their own.

[BurbankKarl]

I see it was the parents that had the courage....49 days!

These poor seniors aren't going to get accepted into colleges of their choice because of the union greed.

[BurbankKarl]

Teachers at the Snohomish County Courthouse this morning said that going back to school without a contract would make them appear "scared" and "bullied."

"I am absolutely furious our school board would put us in this position," said Marge Ngaa, a special-education teacher at Sunnyside Elementary School. "I will not go back to school without a contract."

[Vineyard]

Sounds interesting, but complex.

My recommendation is to allow the free-market to fix the problem.

Pass a law that basically states that if the School District is unable to perform its duty for any reason, then parents are released from the obligation to have their child(ren) attend the local school, and upon presentation of evidence of transfer to a private or charter school, or evidence of home-schooling, then the district would pay for all costs incurred by the parents, up to 80% of what the state pays the school district per child. Also, any withdrawal of a student under the provisions of the act could be continued for 6 years, to ensure the continuity of the education.

The beauty of this proposal is that if teachers go on strike, they could loose a significant number of students, and when the strike was over, maybe 10% to 50% of the teachers would find themselves out of work!!

Usually the free market fixes all - and I am willing to give it a try!!

Mike

[connectthedots]

While I have absolutely no sympathy for the WEA, the judge has no legal authority to order the teachers to return to the classrom. There is no statute or constitutional provision that prohibits teachers from striking. On this basis alone, the judge's order in excess of her jurisdiction; and therefore, void on its face. The legal term is void ab initio.

[dennisw]

Bring in some unemployed hi tech guys to do their jobs at the present pay. I am union friendly except for governmnent worker's unions

[dennisw]

There is no statute or constitutional provision that prohibits teachers from striking. On this basis alone, the judge's order in excess of her jurisdiction; and therefore, void on its face. The legal term is void ab initio............


There might be a no strike provison in their contract

[Centurion2000]

Glad someone's trying to break the NEA teacher's union.

[connectthedots]

There might be a no strike provison in their contract

They don't have a contract. If the school district was serious, they would start hiring replacements, but they are obviously too gutless to take that step.

[connectthedots]

There might be a no strike provison in their contract

They don't have a contract. If the school district was serious, they would start hiring replacements, but they are obviously too gutless to take that step.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Is it not against State law for a State worker to strike? Even the local commie rags in Seattle are saying so.

Most of their pay comes from the state budget so unless you can find a judge willing to say they aren't state employees then no amount of quoting latin terms will get it overturned.

[ladylib]

Looks like hundreds of students fled the Marysville school district while the teachers were on strike.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001782186_marysville04m.html