June 15 was a good day for the paraprofessionals in the Branford public schools. On that day, by a 90 percent margin, they voted to form a union, in an election conducted by the Connecticut State Board of Labor Relations, and gained representation as members of UE Local 222. The victory was especially impressive because it came just three months after members of the 140-worker bargaining unit first contacted UE and asked how they could join the union.
But just a few days, the joy of that victory was tarnished when four of the paraprofessionals were suddenly terminated. The four were Bonnie Bodner, Melissa Francetic, Deb Brown and Betsy Romanelli. The administration claimed they were being let go in a "reduction in staff due to budget constraints." But between June and August, the Branford Schools website posted several openings for paraprofessionals and support staff. None of the four terminated women were offered any of these jobs. Job security and seniority protection had been two of the main reasons the paras had organized, so the actions of the Board of Education (BOE) seemed like a slap in the face of every paraprofessional in Branford.
With the help of UE Field Organizers Annie MacDonald and Colleen Ezzo, the newly-formed union fought to get the four members reinstated, but the school administration refused to budge. The union brought charges before the Connecticut Labor Board. But the slowness of the process was demoralizing. Pam Van Winkle, one of the leaders of the organizing campaign and now president of the union, Sub-local 88 of Local 222, says, "I admit to becoming personally discouraged because I was wondering if what I had chosen to endorse and work for was really going to make a difference. Four paras from the elementary school I work at were let go unjustly. I questioned whether we even had a case."
But they did have a case, as they found out on December 6 when a hearing officer for the Labor Board conducted a pre-hearing conference. The meeting lasted all day, with the union represented by UE International Representative Gene Elk and the BOE by an experienced attorney. But by the end of the day the parties had reached an agreement to reinstate the four members.
Under the agreement, all four will be returned to the same or equivalent positions, with the same hours as they worked previously. Two will go back to their previously assigned school, the other two to other schools. Their seniority is restored, and they will get back pay equal to 50 percent of the earnings they would have received, with no offsets (no reduction of their back pay for unemployment compensation or other interim earnings.) In addition Bonnie Bodner, who had medical expenses while she was terminated, will be reimbursed for those payments.
"I never expected it, and I was beginning to question if I deserved to be let go," says Betsy Romanelli, one of the reinstated workers. "But I knew in my heart I had done nothing to deserve this. It is a real testament to the union, because they came in here not knowing us, but they were willing to fight for us."
"I'm still pinching myself," says Deb Brown. "I can't believe it, and when I heard the news I cried. This is the best Christmas present."
Union President Pam Van Winkle says, "The best part for me was going in to work the next day. Everyone was coming up to me with congratulations for what was accomplished. I went into school feeling like Norma Rae!"