PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release
Duluth, MN
October 18, 1999

DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUND GUILTY OF UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE

ON FRIDAY, APRIL 23,1999 SIXTH JUDICIAL COURT JUDGE, THE HONORABLE DAVID P. SULLIVAN RULED THAT I.S.D. #709, DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAD COMMITTED AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE. THE JUDGE RULED THAT A MEMORANDUM WRITTEN BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, "INTERFERED AND RESTRAINED EMPLOYEES IN THE EXERCISE OF THEIR RIGHT TO STRIKE AND THEIR RIGHT TO MEMBERSHIP IN THE PLAINTIFF UNION, IN VIOLATION Of MINN. STAT. 179A. 13 (1)."

THE DISPUTE ORIGINATED DUE TO WHAT THE UNION FELT TO BE ANTI-UNION AND ILLEGAL ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP Of THEN SUPERINTENDENT MARK MYLES, THEN DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES MARY STAFFORD, AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS PHIL STORSTEEN, ROBERT MARS, BRAD BENNETT, GEORGE BALACH, MARY CLASS -LEBLANC, HARRY WELTY, MARY CAMERON, AND TIM GROVER DURING NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE D.F.T./CLERICAL UNIT.

THIS ACTION BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TOOK PLACE IN VIOLATION OF SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 4030 "CODE Of ETHICS-NEGOTIATIONS" WHICH STATES "THAT SCHOOL BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION WILL (2) RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF ALL EMPLOYEES AS ESTABLISHED BY THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES LABOR RELATIONS ACT (PELRA) AND SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES AS PROHIBITED BY THAT ACT.

MARK MYLES HAS RESIGNED AS SUPERINTENDENT. MARY STAFFORD IS NOW AN ADMINISTRATOR WITH THE NON-UNION EDISON SCHOOL DISTRICT. BRAD BENNETT IS AN OFFICIAL OF F.I.G.H,T. ROBERT MARS IS A SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE. MEMBERS GROVER, WELTY, BALACH CAMERON, AND GLASS-LEBLANC REMAIN ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.

THE UNION HOPES THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD WHO VIOLATED THEIR OWN POLICY IN COMMITTING THIS UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE WILL RESIGN IMMEDIATELY. THE UNION IS CONFIDENT THAT WITH NEW LEADERSHIP IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THE ADMINISTRATION AND SCHOOL BOARD WILL NOT FEEL THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO COMMIT UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES IN THE FUTURE.

RELEASE OF THIS INFORMATION WAS DELAYED TO ALLOW THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AMPLE TIME TO APPEAL.