By Richard ‘Snowball’ Evans
As a sports enthusiast, I’ve endured my fair share of blowout losses, especially as a Rockies fan. Yet, nothing prepared me for the crushing defeat witnessed in the recent union negotiations between the Mesa Valley Education Association and District 51.
To say the union capitulated on all fronts would be an understatement. The manner in which it unfolded was both appalling and difficult to overlook. For over four decades, the cost-sharing agreement between the district and the union regarding leave of absence for teachers serving as union presidents stood strong. Now, it’s been obliterated—a victory for the anti-union school board, as anticipated.
The leadership of the association has exhibited a chronic weakness, evident over multiple terms. However, what truly astounded me was the feebleness displayed when the union made one final plea: the inclusion of an association teacher on board committees. A modest request, met with swift rejection by the district’s legal counsel, acting more as a personal attack dog for the board than a representative of the whole school districts’ interests.
The ensuing negotiations resembled a one-sided bowling match, with the association’s bargaining unit as the pins and the school board as the bowler, achieving a perfect strike. Meanwhile, veteran teachers faced nominal, sometimes even less than 5%, salary increases—effectively a pay cut considering inflation—while district administrators welcomed generous raises atop their already substantial six-figure salaries.
Labeling this debacle a “money issue” is a thinly veiled misdirection, to put it mildly. However, unions, for all their faults, embody democratic principles. The disillusionment among the membership was palpable, evident in the murmurs as leadership orchestrated a post-negotiation photo op—an exercise in futility unless it serves as a reminder of their failure to support the members.
In the face of discontent among the rank and file, the course of action is clear: voice opposition, reject certifying the contract, and hold leadership accountable. Democracies thrive on peaceful transitions of power; it’s time for a change. Leadership must be replaced by individuals willing to learn from past mistakes, individuals who acknowledge their limitations and actively seek better outcomes for the union.
While it may seem unjust to assign blame to one individual, that’s the essence of leadership. If lessons aren’t learned from failure, then change becomes imperative. Failure to act risks plunging our largest labor union in the valley further into turmoil. Let this not be the endgame; let it be a rallying cry to revitalize MVEA.
The Revolutionist 