Chicago art teacher fired while fighting cancer. Fired while on sick leave. That's heartless.

[madfloridian]

From Mike Klonsky's blog.

Mendoza's firing was an outrage


Former CPS art teacher Francisco Mendoza (wearing hat), talks with friends and well-wishers during an auction of donated art items for his benefit held at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago on February 27, 2011 . Mendoza has cancer and was fired last summer by CPS. l Keith Hale~Sun-Times

I went to the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum in Pilsen last night to help fired CPS teacher Francisco Mendoza. The place was packed with hundreds of Mendoza supporters who raised thousands of dollars to support the renowned artist/teacher in his battle with cancer and CPS.

..."The firing of Mendoza while he was on sick leave, was a disgrace and a big blow to his students and the entire school community. He was diagnosed last April with multiple myeloma, a form of bone marrow cancer. He spent five months at Rush University Medical Center undergoing chemotherapy, and survived a close call with a lung infection, before returning home to find a termination letter.

Here is more on the ruthless firing from the Chicago Sun Times.

Rallying around fired teacher fighting cancer

“I’ve got to stay strong,” said Mendoza, smiling beneath a black cowboy hat, seated in a wheelchair. “I feel like if I cry — everyone here will start crying.”

Mendoza went on sick leave after he was diagnosed last April with multiple myeloma, a form of bone marrow cancer. He spent five months at Rush University Medical Center undergoing chemotherapy, and survived a close call with a lung infection, before returning home to find a termination letter.

“He read it and just broke down crying. He put in 25 years as an art teacher, and that was the thanks he got,” said James Larralde, Mendoza’s nephew.

Mendoza said he, like hundreds of other teachers, was fired due to budget problems. But he claims it was a mistake. Teachers with less tenure kept their jobs, he says.

“The Board of Education said the principal mixed it up — and the principal says the mix up was downtown. It’s like ping-pong,” said Mendoza.

And Michelle Rhee is in our state recommending to the legislature that 8% of Florida teachers be fired.

There is a cut-throat ruthless attitude toward teachers and their unions now. They have been made the scapegoats for all kinds of society's ills.

I don't see anybody in leadership taking up for them...only themselves. The attacks are going on in many states now. Wisconsin showed us how to do it, but unless there is media coverage I fear that kind of protest will die in many areas.

They are down so low as to fire a teacher of 25 years who has cancer and is on sick leave.

Where are the leaders speaking out for us now?

A note about the links. I have to get to DU via a proxy site. It looks as if the links are taking on that proxy as well. I assume it will work okay.

[Dappleganger]

1. This is beyond disgusting and uncivilized.

I really just don't know what else to say except go to bed with a heavy heart yet again. :(

[gateley]

3. This is so sad. It makes my heart heavy too, Dappleganger. I wish I could help him. nt

[Octafish]

2. ''He put in 25 years as an art teacher, and that was the thanks he got,''

His students and their parents appreciate him. Where is the CPS administration?

[madfloridian]

4. Well, Rahm wants to close 35 schools and turn them into charters.

So there will be more firings. Teachers will have to reapply for their jobs and be hired again...or not.

It's sickening.

[suffragette]

5. This is callous and cruel

I'd say shame on them, but people who could do this just can't even have a sense of shame or compassion.

[madfloridian]

27. It seems that many in this country have lost any compassion for others.

It's like the right wing media has done its job well, spreading zero tolerance.

[suffragette]

30. Yes and it's an immense loss

I watched "Triangle Fire" on PBS and there are so many similarities from that time, a time they would take us back to if they could.
It also brought up reminders of those who strove to make positive change, people like Clara Lemlich.

I think you are one of those people and I thank you for it.

[Horse with no Name]

6. This has become the norm

I can beat that.

A hospital I worked for was weeding out its FMLA employees.

One of our nurses had a baby that had some type of rare congenital cancer and had to have a bone marrow transplant at birth.

She was fired because she took off too much time.

This is what a "right to work" state brings you.

Disgusting.

[madfloridian]

9. Cruel and tragic.

[melm00se]

11. not "right to work"

but rather "at will" employment.

(personal pet peeve of mine so rant on)

"Right to work" laws cover whether or not you must join the union if the union is represents the workers in the workplace.

"At will" employment laws are ones that mean you work somewhere as long as you (or your employer) want. this allows you (or the employer) to terminate the working relationship at any time with no penalty on the side of the employer or employee.

[Lugnut]

19. It's been the norm for a while.

My daughter requested a medical leave from her company to have emergency gall bladder surgery in 2004. She was very ill and the procedure was on an ASAP time frame. The day before her surgery they let her go.

[Starry Messenger]

7. I'd rec, but my proxy won't let me.

We are right back to the 19th century here. Every vulnerable person is going to be tossed off the lifeboats.

[madfloridian]

8. My proxy won't let me search at all. It has been 15 hrs if I figure it right.

Maybe longer. From 11 am for sure, maybe before. It is now 2:20 here in the morning. Guess that makes 15.

Really weird.

[Lucinda]

10. Have you tried a system restart? n/t

[madfloridian]

14. Yes, several times. I am still using a proxy this morning. 10:40.

[somone]

12. That happens all the time in the private sector BTW

[madfloridian]

18. Well, why do you think they are doing bigtime union busting??

So they can do it to the public sector as well.

[WinkyDink]

29. And your point is what? That the private sector is screwed up? Yeah, we know.

[Tatiana]

13. Our union has filed a lawsuit against the unjust firings. Mr. Mendoza isn't the only one.

It defies explanation... what they have done to us here in Chicago. So many people I looked up to and admired as mentors took early retirement because no one wants to put up with these attacks anymore.

For years, unfortunately, we were led by a corrupt union leadership team. But they got kicked out and finally we seem to have leadership that is responsive to the members.

http://www.ctunet.com/blog/labor-board-to-hear-ctu-case-on-2010-summer-firings

Labor Board to Hear CTU Case on 2010 Summer Firings
02/17/2011

After hearing oral arguments from CTU and CPS on February 15, 2011, the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB) will hold a full hearing on whether CPS bargained in bad faith and retaliated against the Chicago Teachers Union by firing 1,788 of its members during the summer of 2010.

<snip>

“If the IELRB finds in favor of CTU, all teachers and could have their jobs restored and receive back pay for lost wages,” said Robert Bloch, attorney for CTU.

“CPS should look at educators as partners, not adversaries,” said CTU Staff Coordinator Jackson Potter, “By terminating these teachers, CPS failed miserably as an whose priorities should be building trust and retaining an experienced workforce.”

All this trouble, teacher-bashing, and attempted union-busting started with Arne and continued with Huberman (and his "Huberteam" as we liked to call them). Of course, both of them have managed for "fall up" while leaving the rest of us and our students with the wreckage of their poor leadership.

[madfloridian]

16. Yes, it started with Arne there in Chicago. Now he is spreading it nationwide.

His last call at the conference on collaboration or whatever he called it was for unions to get along with management. I got a big laugh out of that considering what is happening in WI and about 15 other states....including my own.

[displacedvermoter]

23. Who hired him and Rahm to come to Washington?

[madfloridian]

24. The Boss Man hired them.

[displacedvermoter]

25. Yes he did

and he's still dreamy!!!

[catrose]

22. My first thought was

"Doesn't he have a union?"

Glad to hear that he does.

[madfloridian]

35. It's become a hobby to steamroll over the unions ....

and do whatever they want.

[Poboy]

15. recommend

[Jefferson23]

17. A new low, ugh. K&R n/t

[madfloridian]

26. Agree...it is really is a new low.

And looks like they are passing the buck.

[EFerrari]

20. Treating teachers, let alone sick people, like this is flat out unAmerican.

Unless you believe an an America where only rich people's kids have good teachers and sick people are put out in the snow to die.

[MedicalAdmin]

21. Put out in the snow. Hell no.

That's a waste of good chicken and pig feed. Don't waste the bodies - convert them to food.

I'm only sorta kidding here.

[AnneD]

28. According to Newt G....

a hospital is the best place to serve a notice-you are guaranteed to reach the desired person.

[madfloridian]

34. That was a terrible thing he did to his wife.

Amazing he has any credibility left.

[AnneD]

36. That's just it.....

He doesn't have any creditably to most people that remember. Family values my Aunt Trudy's bloomers. Ron Paul is more electable than this guy.i

[Eyerish]

31. K&R

[sarcasmo]

32. Worst country on the Planet.

[Jakes Progress]

33. This is the neocon dream.

They want the worker class under the thumb of the power elite. Cower for your jobs. Lose your job on a rich man's whim.

Once they have killed all unions, we will return to the gilded age. The republican powers are attacking public employee unions because everyone has had a bad experience dealing with the county or city. The Democratic powers are attacking teacher unions because most people remember getting a bad grade or having to write papers or got caught smoking in the restroom. Both republicans and Democrats have staked out the most stupid and least thinking as their target audience. First the unions that they can get the stupid to hate, then all of the others.

When people won't stand up for teachers and public employees, they shouldn't expect anyone to defend them when they are next.

[avaistheone1]

37. k&r