Neshaminy calls for criminal investigation of threats, vandalism against teachers
Request based on teacher's allegations that union leaders and followers have used terror and fear" tactics against members who don't support the union.
Neshaminy calls for criminal investigation of threats, vandalism against teachers
Allegations of threats and acts of vandalism aimed at Neshaminy teachers has prompted the district to request a criminal investigation by the Bucks County District Attorney.
In a letter to Superintendent Louis Muenker, board President Ritchie Webb wrote: “The Board has concluded that credible concerns exist for the safety of our staff” based on a Jan. 25 letter by high school history teacher and assistant football coach David Ferrara. “I have therefore requested that the Bucks County District Attorney conduct a criminal investigation of the vandalism done to Mr. Ferrara’s SUV as well as other allegations detailed in his letter.
“Since the safety of our employees is of paramount concern, I ask that all district staff provide any information requested by and cooperate fully with the authorities,” Webb wrote.
The request for an investigation also was based on a report of the incidents by Muenker and high school principal Rob McGee, Webb said in the letter.
District Attorney David Heckler could not be reached for comment.
Last week, Ferrara said that a tire on his SUV was slashed one day after he accused the teachers union’s leaders and a group of their followers for harassing and shunning members who did not support the union.
Ferrara also said in a Facebook post that one member of the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers had received several written threats, including a death threat. Car vandalism had occurred at several schools, he wrote in the post.
After Ferrara’s tire was slashed, he sent his letter to the school district with permission to release it. Webb said at the time that Ferrara “was one of the teachers to come in when the teachers were picketing Back to School Night.”
There had been other vandalism incidents on school grounds, but the teachers declined to report them because they feared reprisals, Webb said.
The teachers have been working without a raise for more than 3½ years, under the terms of a contract that expired in 2008. The union’s frustration with the stalemated contract talks have led leaders to call two “work-to-contract” job actions, with members doing minimal work, and an eight school-day strike that ended Jan. 20. A second strike is possible in the spring.
Ferrara, in his “letter of concern,” wrote:
In the past four years, the members of the NFT have been subjected to an endless barrage of tactics from our elected officials. These elected officials have been surrounded by a small number of individuals who continually tell them what they want to hear. This has led to the implementation of ‘terror and fear’ tactics in our workplace. Individuals have had damage done to their personal property, they have received written threats, and incidents of bullying during the school day. There is a significant amount of shunning led by none other than the elected president of the NFT. Those who surround the leadership want to instigate confrontations or shun individuals who question the decisions made by five individuals. Most would agree that these terror and fear tactics have no place in an organization that prides itself with professionalism.”
The NFT does not comment on internal matters, a spokeman said last week.
this intimidation has been going on for sometime. too bad this will be a case of he said-she said. i have friends who have reported bullying from LB and others for years!best thing is to dissolve the union and have new elections.
— Notmyname- typical union thuggery. They should be banned.— MilesLong1
- Hire all non-union.— dontlikeneocons
- And the teachers call themselves professionals.....there should be some way to replace the teachers who don't want to put the responsibility of the job first; every teacher in this district earns a very good salary and good benefits which majny would love top have. Agree to arbitration and try to bring back soem of the dignaty that the teachers have lost.— Bigbirch
- Good for the union.— HandNik
- If the teachers union would have agreed to a short term contract 4 years ago they might be in a better position to negotiate now. Everyone is paying for health care. This isnt the 70's and 80's people. Its not like the district is asking you to put out 20% of your salary to pay for health care. The school district kept your salary the same for the last 4 years. Everytime you strike you are giving money back because they aint paying you. My idea is for the teachers to strike about 4 more times and by then the school district should have enough $ to keep your health insurance at zero for a few years.....or we we could all wait for Obama Care.— Bruddah
- Bogus union leaedership, lack of professionals in the ranks, and a total neglect of the kids is the product of unionship in this issue....Now with health care costs at an all time high and the union poster child President Obama, the chances that they will get what they hope for is NIL.....Sorry, teachers you have been led down a path by your greedy union officials and you will end up without the benefits you want and there will be cuts......The real question is, DOYOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO DECERTIFY......AND become professionals and eal with the facts of life and the reality of the taxation issue and the fact that there is no more money......Time to assert your college education and fire the union thugs and the union management....Your present course will lead you to disaster and unemployement.....Wake up....— nuggett
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- Typical disgusting union scum.— intheweeds
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- Just what are the current salaries and benefits, including pension benefits?— jasjfarrell
- awww, poor scab— eaglesfillthesky
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