On July 31, Clark County School District filed for an injunction in court to prevent CCEA, Clark County Education Association, from executing teacher strikes. Teachers were unhappy with salary advancement programs which led to many controversies and even possible lawsuits.
Since school began Aug. 7, the two organizations have gone back and forth with meetings, demands and contract negotiations–all so far unsuccessful. Both organizations have proposed various contracts, hoping to put an end to the issue, all of which have been rejected.
As for the way the issue affects the CCSD students, a few teachers have considered the idea of “striking” by simultaneously taking a sick day in order to take a stand without going against the no-strike policy. It is currently illegal for government employees such as police officers and teachers to go on strike as they are in critical positions.
As of right now, the board meetings are continuing, and discussions are constantly being held concerning the beliefs and even demands of many CCSD employees and CCEA members.
CCEA filed a response opposing the means for a teacher strike claiming that it was “legally inadequate,” which is when the injunction was filed.
The decision was made by many teachers at different schools across CCSD to take a simultaneous sick day sometime within the next month. The teachers had planned on rallying together and convincing as many other teachers to take the day off as possible. As a result of the immense amount of organized sick days being taken some schools in CCSD have been forced to shut down due to the lack of teachers. Schools that had to close due to too many absent teachers include Twitchell Elementary, Southwest CTA and Rogich Middle School on Sept. 12.
Because of the state law forbiding public employees from striking, and the injunction that basically says sick outs count as strikes, teachers caught participating could be at risk of losing their jobs. On Sept. 13, the teacher association CCEA sent an email warning their teachers.
“We are also notifying all educators in the Clark County School District that the court has indicated that individual educators who engage in continued and concerted sick-outs—calling out as sick without illness in an attempt to disrupt normal school instruction—or other strike activities may be found in violation of this injunction and face penalties including termination of employment, and that CCEA and its officers may be held in violation, as well,” CCEA’s email reads.
CCEA has argued that they did not organize the “sick outs,” and for now, they seem to have subsided, although even regular absences cause disruptions in schools due to a lack of subs being available. Students have also participated. Both Basic and Clark high schools have had student walk outs or protests in defense of teachers getting a good contract.
CCEA members have planned a community march and rally on Saturday Oct. 7 downtown on the Strip while they wait for the arbitration process to resolve their contract dispute.
