Teacher: School fired me for forming union
A former special education teacher says the Evergreen Charter School in Hempstead fired her in December after she tried to form a union and requested a 12-week maternity leave.
New York State United Teachers, a federation of more than 1,200 local unions, has filed an improper practice charge with the New York Public Employees Relations Board on behalf of Jill Haag, 29, of Point Lookout. NYSUT is seeking to have Haag reinstated.
"I knew forming a union, there would be some casualties," Haag said. "I just didn't think it would be me."
Gil Bernadino, president of the school's board of trustees, said in a phone interview that Haag was fired "for reasons based on her performance" and would not comment further.
Julia Cohen, a Manhattan attorney for Evergreen, also would not comment.
Papers filed with the board contend that Bernadino asked a custodian to surreptitiously track Haag's "daily comings and goings." He tracked Haag by monitoring video cameras in the classrooms, the papers state. The federation said that effort was "designed to thwart" Haag and others from union-organizing.
Haag said that on Nov. 28 she submitted papers requesting a maternity leave. The next day, she received a letter dated Nov. 28 from Principal Maritza Meyers, expressing "significant concerns" about her work.
Meyers did not return a call for comment.
Meyers' letter stated that Haag "failed to . . . provide certain mandated special education services to eligible students" and that she was absent or late for some classes. "Your failure to fulfill your professional duties is negatively impacting on student learning," Meyers wrote.
Haag responded in a Dec. 1 letter, saying she could document her whereabouts during school hours and that she provided needed student services.
On Dec. 2, Haag received a termination letter from Meyers.
Trudy Rudnick, a labor relations specialist for the teachers federation, said the school recognized the union on Dec. 21.
PERB will hold a conference on the matter in Brooklyn Wednesday, the same day that the teachers federation plans a protest outside a school trustees' meeting.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
