ADVISORY/'Re-Union' Rally: Principals, Assistant Principals Form New OSAS Union Chapter for Meaningful Voice in School Decision-Making.

Business Editors/Education Writers

ADVISORY... for Wednesday (June 16)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

School Administrators and Supervisors (OSAS)

Background

    Previously members of the Organization of School Administrators
and Supervisors (OSAS) Local 28, Detroit's public school principals
and assistant principals found themselves without a union when the
legislature removed them from the bargaining unit and stripped them of
collective bargaining rights in 2002.
    These school leaders say that because they do not have a real
voice in the way that their schools are run, the quality of education
suffers. Principals and assistant principals are frustrated and fed up
with working with one hand tied behind their backs. They are held
accountable for their students' performance, yet they have no real
power to make the decisions needed to improve student performance.

Event

    More than 200 principals and assistant principals, wearing
identical T-shirts to show their unity will march into the union hall
to symbolize their return to the House of Labor. They will hold a
rally to announce they have formed their own union chapter, and kick
off their campaign to seize back their collective bargaining rights.
During the rally the name of their union will be revealed. Top labor
leaders and supporters will welcome and stand in solidarity with the
members of Detroit's newest labor union chapter. While we hear reports
of union membership remaining flat, here is an example of the emerging
trend of re-unionization.

WHO:    Detroit public school principals and assistant principals,
        labor leaders, and supporters.

WHAT:   March and rally.

WHERE:  International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Hall,
        1358 Abbott, Detroit 48202.

WHEN:   Wednesday, June 16th.

TIME:   4:30 - 6 p.m.