DETROIT – About 70 Detroit Public School security guards have accused their own union of attempting to sneak through a new contract by having it approved via a mail-in vote.
To protest, the members of Teamsters Local 214 picketed their union offices May 30. The demonstrators want an in-person referendum.
According to one union official, however, the picketers are misinterpreting the bylaws. According to Detroit News Online, members were allowed to vote in person on May 10. Under the union’s bylaws, those who missed it could vote by mail.
The new contract does not include a pay raise or penalties for violent students – measures wanted by the guards. It does have a new tardiness policy allowing a school to fire a guard if he or she is late 14 times.
