What Happened to our Beloved Field Rep Joey McDermott?
By Jim Vail
The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) fired one of its finest field representatives Joey McDermott last fall.
Several teacher delegates have asked about grievances or problems at their school that were being handled by McDermott during House of Delegates meetings. They say that the field reps who replaced him have not been as prompt in returning their calls.
CTU President Jesse Sharkey says that McDermott is no longer with the union.
McDermott has not commented on his situation.
He is working today as a biology teacher at Prosser High School.
McDermott joined the Coalition of Rank and File Educators, or CORE, before they won the union election in 2010. CORE has run the teachers union ever since.
The union's field representatives are members of the Teamsters Union. Several field reps have either been replaced or retired since CORE took office 10 years ago.
McDermott has filed a grievance to be reinstated and the union will have to answer, just as a CTU teacher who is fired by CPS has due process under their union contract.
McDermott has earned a reputation as a strong union field rep who helped many CTU members either win grievances or get the advice they need.
One retired CTU delegate said almost 200 teachers have sent letters to the union asking to reinstate Mr. McDermott. One letter stated that McDermott has "an excellent knowledge of the Board-Union Agreement and was always able to provide quick and thoughtful responses to contract questions." He also possessed an extensive knowledge related to CPS policies as well as knowledge of the Illinois School Code.
In response to a letter I wrote to President Jesse Sharkey, he stated that he has heard from many people who tell him about Joey's dedication to representing members at school, but Sharkey has a responsibility to look into "complaints from members and staff at the CTU."
What those complaints are, or the real reason behind firing a stellar field rep have yet to be determined.
Many teacher delegates have battled their principals and been fired for their activism.
"Be assured that Joey will be afforded all of his rights in this process," Sharkey stated.
By Jim Vail
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| Joey McDermott |
The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) fired one of its finest field representatives Joey McDermott last fall.
Several teacher delegates have asked about grievances or problems at their school that were being handled by McDermott during House of Delegates meetings. They say that the field reps who replaced him have not been as prompt in returning their calls.
CTU President Jesse Sharkey says that McDermott is no longer with the union.
McDermott has not commented on his situation.
He is working today as a biology teacher at Prosser High School.
McDermott joined the Coalition of Rank and File Educators, or CORE, before they won the union election in 2010. CORE has run the teachers union ever since.
The union's field representatives are members of the Teamsters Union. Several field reps have either been replaced or retired since CORE took office 10 years ago.
McDermott has filed a grievance to be reinstated and the union will have to answer, just as a CTU teacher who is fired by CPS has due process under their union contract.
McDermott has earned a reputation as a strong union field rep who helped many CTU members either win grievances or get the advice they need.
One retired CTU delegate said almost 200 teachers have sent letters to the union asking to reinstate Mr. McDermott. One letter stated that McDermott has "an excellent knowledge of the Board-Union Agreement and was always able to provide quick and thoughtful responses to contract questions." He also possessed an extensive knowledge related to CPS policies as well as knowledge of the Illinois School Code.
In response to a letter I wrote to President Jesse Sharkey, he stated that he has heard from many people who tell him about Joey's dedication to representing members at school, but Sharkey has a responsibility to look into "complaints from members and staff at the CTU."
What those complaints are, or the real reason behind firing a stellar field rep have yet to be determined.
Many teacher delegates have battled their principals and been fired for their activism.
"Be assured that Joey will be afforded all of his rights in this process," Sharkey stated.
IMO Joey McDermott should have taken his righteous place in society and ran against AFT Progressive Caucus at the Seattle Convention in 2010. When you don’t lead you are subject to anything IMO. CTU lLocal 1 should be leading the AFT iMOadter years to decades of underdevelopment and undereducation of our underprivileged children without a glimpse of Ivy League potential IMO, professional opinion - M.Ed.
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