Teachers Union Files Suit Against Flint School Board

After overwhelmingly voting no confidence in the Flint Community Schools Board of Education last week, the United Teachers of Flint union is filing a lawsuit against the board.

In January, the board rejected a settlement agreement reached between the teachers’ union and school district administrators, despite three members of the school board having already sat on the bargaining committee that approved the settlement. According to the union, the Board has refused to explain its rationale to educators, parents or the community about its decision. The settlement agreement, with the help of mediation from the Michigan Employment Relations Commission, addressed critical issues like teacher recruitment and retention, pay increases and step advancements for school employees, and transitioning back to a traditional school calendar, as requested by school district leaders.

The union has now filed charges against the board with the Michigan Employment Relations Commission, citing unfair labor practices. In a Wednesday meeting, the union also voted to authorize job action, which can include a strike.