A version of this piece was sent to DCTA members last week.
DCTA filed the ELO grievance because we believe DPS is mandating several schools to expand their day without a fair process or fair compensation – and is doing so without bargaining the issue as directed by our contract. Article 8-2-2 of the Master Agreement between DCTA and DPS is clear: “The District’s scheduled student school contact day will not be extended without applying the due process of collective bargaining.” The grievance also lists other contract provisions that we believe are being violated as the District refuses to bargain the issue.
Since filing this grievance at the beginning of February, DCTA representatives have tried in every way possible to settle this grievance before going to Level III of the grievance process. Level III, which involves a hearing with an outside arbitrator, can be a time-consuming course of action. “Soon after filing the grievance, the superintendent indicated he was willing to work with us on the major elements we identified that could have resolved the concerns surrounding the ELO process. Knowing that arbitration can be an extensive process, we decided to give settlement talks a chance,” says Henry Roman, DCTA president, “We are disappointed that, after meeting with District representatives for several lengthy conversations, they finally let us know this week that they are not going to consider meeting any of our identified issues. In essence, they have not moved from the positions they had when we first filed the grievance.” Read More→
