Posted on 09/11/2006 3:18:02 PM PDT by SmithL
DETROIT -- Thousands of striking Detroit teachers defied a judge's order to return to work Monday as school officials and the union resumed contract talks in the two-week dispute.
Circuit Judge Susan Borman on Friday ordered the 7,000 teachers to go back to work Monday, but district spokesman Lekan Oguntoyinbo said the overwhelming majority remained off the job. He said attorneys would go back in court Tuesday to ask the judge to "enforce our rights."
State law allows for fines and other penalties against employees who ignore a back-to-work order, but Oguntoyinbo would not say what action the district would seek.
Janna Garrison, president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, said individual teachers were free to decide whether to work or strike.
"We're not just fighting for ourselves. We're fighting for our students," she told reporters.
The two sides resumed talks Monday after a one-day break but adjourned in the afternoon with no date set to return, said union spokeswoman Michelle Price.
The walkout began Aug. 28 after teachers rejected a two-year contract that would have cut pay 5.5 percent and increased co-payments for health care. The district has sought $88 million in concessions from the union to help close a $105 million deficit in its $1.36 billion budget for the fiscal year.
The school district had hoped to use Monday as a planning day before the 130,000 students returned to class Tuesday. Classes for Tuesday were called off.
Teachers picketed outside several high schools.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
No. He's an immigrant from an African country, Kenya I think. He's been very well spoken on this issue. These teachers are just a bunch of clowns and thugs. If I were a teacher, I would be embarrassed to be in the same line of work as these morons.
Homeschool Rocks.
I wonder if that's the same Lekan Oguntoyinbo I used to know. Naaaaa, probably a different Lekan Oguntoyinbo.
FIRE THEM ALL.
I had no idea it was that bad.
I like your nickname for the city.
post 15: excellent!
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