Pennsylvania's Khepera Charter School is one of the relatively few charter schools with unionized teachers—but that doesn't mean the school is working with its teachers and their union. Last week, teachers
voted unanimously to authorize a strike if they don't start seeing progress in ongoing contract negotiations:
In a statement released by the union, teachers at the K-8 charter alleged that foot-dragging by the board had prompted many staffers to leave, undermining students' learning.
Khepera's first union contract expired in December 2012 and was extended three times through last August as the teachers attempted to reach a new agreement.
"With negotiations dragging on nearly two years, staff turnover has been tremendous," Kim Johnson, a science teacher and president of the local, said in the statement, issued late Tuesday.
"Teachers want to provide the best education possible, but without a contract, many of our teachers are looking for jobs elsewhere so they can support their own families, pay their student loans, and apply for mortgages," added Johnson, whose children graduated from Khepera. "It's taking its toll on the close relationships that have been established between the teachers, the children and the parents."
This is the first strike authorization vote at a union-represented Pennsylvania charter school; the union has also filed multiple unfair labor practices complaints with the National Labor Relations Board. But obviously Khepera's board is committed to a policy of delay, despite whatever bad effects that has on the school's students.