Judge Rules Nevada Teacher Absences as an Illegal Strike

Judge Rules Nevada Teacher Absences as an Illegal Strike

After the last few years, how can teachers do this? Students are already suffering from all the school closures during the pandemic.

From the Associated Press, via FOX News:

Wave of Nevada teachers calling in sick ruled as an illegal strike, according to judge

A judge on Wednesday ordered a teachers union to put an end to teacher absences that have forced Las Vegas-area school closures and that she said are “very clearly a strike,” amid a contract battle in a state where it is illegal for public employees to walk off the job.

Since Sept. 1, unexpected staff shortages have led eight schools to cancel classes for the day and two others to combine classes, according to the Clark County School District, the largest in Nevada and the fifth-largest in the nation with about 295,000 students. One school had 87% of its teachers call in sick on the same day.

“The idea that this can be ignored, that these are sick call-outs, and that they are actually due to someone being sick is preposterous,” Clark County District Judge Crystal Eller said in a hearing. If the union fails to stop the strike, penalties could include a fine of up to $50,000, as well as jail time or termination for striking members and union leaders.

The Clark County Education Association, which represents about 18,000 teachers, has said it isn’t responsible for the wave of absences that swelled Tuesday with the unexpected closure of four more schools.

The district, which has close to 380 schools, is already facing more than 1,100 teacher vacancies. The education association, however, says vacancies are almost double that if you factor in open positions currently filled by substitutes.

Union leader John Vellardita said after the hearing that he “respectfully” disagrees with the judge’s order. The union will appeal to the state Supreme Court.

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