I'm wondering what other union members think of the following arrangement:
>>>>The sister of teachers-union President Michael Mulgrew was wrist-slapped Monday for operating a booming tutoring company that was awarded $40 million in work from the city while she was employed as a public-school teacher.
The overlapping gigs got Kathleen Mulgrew-Daretany a warning letter from the city Conflicts of Interest Board, after it determined that her work for Brienzas Academic Advantage violated city conflict-of-interest rules.
While Mulgrew-Daretany was technically on an extended unpaid maternity leave from 2001 through 2012, she was still barred as a city employee from working at a firm that conducts business with the city.
Mulgrew-Daretany served as COO of the firm from 2008 to 2012, at which point she resigned from her teaching gig.
She then left Brienzas in 2012, but the city Department of Education rehired her. She is currently an associate education officer with a $75,825 salary, officials said.
Officials launched a probe following inquiries by The Post about Mulgrew-Daretanys employment.>>>>>>
the rest: http://nypost.com/2013/12/24/ethics-no-no-for-teacher-union-chiefs-sister/
So, essentially, the employer ( NYC Dept of Ed.) steers 40 million dollars of contracted work to a private firm run by the sister of the president of the union. Wouldn't the union president be at least *potentially* compromised by such an arrangement? Wouldn't there be a temptation to be "reasonable" in advocating for his members.... for fear of risking what appears to be a relationship which is highly material beneficial to members of his family.
Is it appropriate that the union "declines comment"?
Would members of other unions demand clearer boundaries between their employer and their union?
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)and if I were a member of that particular Union, I would be asking lots of questions both locally and to my international.
Smarmie Doofus
(14,498 posts)I'm guessing they would know about it. ( AFT Pres. Weingarten was his mentor in New York.)
Thanks.
Squinch
(50,949 posts)There is no way to NOT know what is a conflict of interest. There is no way Mulgrew or his sister DIDN'T know that what she was doing was a conflict of interest.
And contracts for private tutoring companies are not that far off from charter schools in terms of their detrimental effects on the union and the perception of the union.
He has some 'splaining to do.
Smarmie Doofus
(14,498 posts)Another possible reason for his accommodationist approach to corporate "reform" of public schools.
Funny... the education blogosphere will kick him all over the place re. his caving to "reform" .... but it appears very few want to go anywhere near the situation described in OP.
Squinch
(50,949 posts)The DOE didn't check into the fact that the sister of the union president was an owner? Sure. And then he takes a pro reform position.
This stinks.
He fell asleep and they turned him into a pod. It happened to Randi too.
Omaha Steve
(99,632 posts)More than just an oops conflict!