Huffington Post:
Arts Academy In The Woods Teachers Vote To Unionize Charter School

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/15/arts-academy-in-the-woods-charter-school-union_n_1150009.html?ref=education&ir=Education

December 15th , 2001- The Huffington Post

By Simone Landon- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

After a six-month organizing drive, teachers at a suburban Detroit charter school voted to unionize on Wednesday, simultaneously certifying a new union local for charter school teachers in Michigan.

Teachers at the Arts Academy in the Woods high school in Fraser approved the new Michigan Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff (Michigan ACTS), a local affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers Michigan, by a vote of 20-1.

The 10-year-old AAW is chartered by the Macomb County Independent School District and is one of the highest performing schools in the county, serving 276 students in grades 9-12. It is only the second charter school to belong to AFT Michigan, but union organizers say it won't be the last.

Phil Cerrasco, an English teacher at the school, was involved in the union campaign and says the new union will approach the bargaining table in a collaborative spirit.

"We've had a lot pay cuts, a lot of insurance cuts," he said. "It hasn't turned us bitter, but it has made us think collectively maybe it's time for us to collaborate more on what's affecting our future and get outside of the classroom."

Teachers at Fraser's Arts Academy in the Woods Unionize

http://www.macombdaily.com/articles/2011/12/15/news/doc4ee9417b93150749571191.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Published in Macomb Daily: Thursday, December 15, 2011

By Gordon Wilczynski
Macomb Daily Staff Writer

Teachers and staff at the Arts Academy in the Woods, a Fraser charter school, voted 20-1 Wednesday to establish a union.

The action will give staff the ability to collectively bargain with the AAW board, said David Hecker, president of the American Federation of Teachers Michigan.

The vote certified the Michigan Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff, an affiliate of the AFT, as the official bargaining agent for teachers and staff.

The Academy provides an integrated arts and academics educational experience, English teacher Phil Cerrasco said. The staff at AAW views the certification as essential to the continued success of the school.

“We formed a collective bargaining unit for many reasons, including our desire for job security, stability, consistency and to ensure our professional respect,” Cerrasco said in a prepared statement.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the school’s administration to create a contract that reflects our mutual commitment to providing a high quality education and establishing a professional environment for the staff.”

Happy Holidays Everyone!

We would love to take a moment and invite you, your Colleagues, Family and Friends to TWO special events coming up Friday, December 16th....

To RSVP & Reserve your tickets, please click here to fill out the on-line RSVP

Michigan ACTS’ Holiday Happy Hour
At COLORS Restaurant (311 E. Grand River, Detroit)
4:30pm - 6:30pm
Celebrate all your hard work this year with a relaxing evening of drinks and locally sourced hors d'oeuvre. Hosted by The Michigan Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff .
Cash bar, door-prizes, and more. Free.

Followed by......
An Evening of The Arts
At The Music Hall (350 Madison, Detroit)
Reception 6:00pm; Performance begins 7:30pm
Macomb County’s Top Performing High School, Arts Academy in the Woods will be showcasing its renowned Performance & Fine Arts program at downtown Detroit’s Music Hall. Live Dance and Instrumental Performances. 2-d, 3-d & Multi-Media Art Exhibition. Pre-performance reception at 6:00 pm. The performance begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets $7.

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