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Mt. SAC language instructor wins her grievance
Association alleged district violated free speech
by Milly Bettinger
CTA Communications Consultant Emeritus
A Mt. San Antonio College instructor has successfully retired and moved to Italy after winning a grievance against the Southern California college administration over its unauthorized taping of a faculty meeting.
Beginning as a minor dispute two years ago during a department meeting, the issue escalated into a full-scale legal battle that was resolved in February 2002 through a negotiated agreement between the district and the Mt. SAC Faculty Association, an affiliate of CCA/CTA.
Instructor complains to administration
The dispute began when Hilde Cramsie, a Spanish instructor, issued a complaint regarding an unauthorized taping of a faculty meeting between the four women and five men instructors in the community college's Department of Foreign Language. Cramsie not only voiced her objection to the taping, but followed it up with letters to the administration. Later she appeared before the Board of Trustees about that issue and other charges that she perceived as departmental dysfunction, requesting a full investigation into her allegations of discrimination and misconduct in the Department of Foreign Language.
A tangled web of charges, counter charges, and a department split down gender lines followed the initial complaints. District administrators reportedly resented the strong criticisms leveled by Cramsie against several male colleagues. Following letters she wrote, and a report to the Board of Trustees explaining her position, the instructor was hit with a letter of reprimand, an unsatisfactory evaluation from the district, an unprofessional conduct charge and a number of "discriminations or threats of discriminations."
Association files grievance
The faculty association filed a grievance on behalf of Cramsie, citing her right to free speech, and for the district to "cease and desist from imposing or threatening to impose reprisal" against her.
Assisted by CCA/CTA's Group Legal Services, the association ultimately took further legal action, filing an unfair labor practice charge against the district when the reprisals continued. The stern written responses from the district administrators made it clear that they considered Cramsie out of order in issuing her original complaint and seemingly ignoring her criticisms of her department. They also expressed extreme displeasure about her criticism of some male faculty members, apparently without even considering an investigation into her charges, or implementing recommendations for improvement in the Department of Foreign Language.
Ron Reel, president of the Mt. SAC Faculty Association/CTA/NEA, reported that the faculty supported Cramsie's right of expression and opposed the district's immediate reaction to punish her.
"The entire situation revolved around the district's attempt to repress an individual's freedom of expression," he said. "We are pleased that this matter is now resolved to our satisfaction as a result of the recently negotiated settlement." |
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