The National Labor Relations Board has filed a complaint against two Detroit charter school management companies.
The Detroit Metro Times reports the CEO of New Urban Learning allegedly started a second "alter ego" management company to avoid a unionizing effort by teachers.
The Metro Times reports Lesley Redwine started Inspired Education to take over University YES Academy after staff voted in favor of a union last spring.
In a press release from the American Federation of Teachers in Michigan, UYA elementary teacher Hannah Chapman says NUL announced they were leaving soon after that vote.
“This meant that we were laid off and had to reapply for our jobs. We were also told by InspirED that our vote didn’t count and that they would not bargain with us because they were a new management company,” Chapman said.
The AFT says Redwine faces a federal charge for “refusing to bargain” with its charter arm, the Michigan Alliance of Charter Teachers.
“Teachers voted to form a union, this gave them the right to collectively bargain. This charge shows that even though charter schools will try to bend the rules, our union and the NLRB will hold them accountable to the law,” said David Hecker, President of AFT Michigan
The AFT says the NLRB has scheduled a hearing for June.
