Subject: Conflict of Interest
It was with great interest that I learned of Miami-Dade County Schools (MDCPS) “investment” in the bargaining agent of the employees, United Teachers of Dade (UTD).
If I understand correctly, MDCPS subsidizes the salaries of 16-18 UTD “employees,” including the elected officers (see below). I put quotes around employees because I wonder how fair it is to call someone whose salary is paid by another entity (one which is antagonistic to many of your objectives?) the employee of anyone else.
If I understand, this subsidy amounts to $1.2 million dollars every year, or about 10% of UTD’s revenue.
If this is true, I wonder how fairly UTD can represent its employees against a major contributor to UTD’s budget.
Isn’t that a conflict of interest?
Can UTD really do its job while the threat of the punitive loss of salaries, pool days, and supplements being decreased exists?
Isn’t this kind of like being offered a defense attorney only to find out the plaintiff is paying 10% of the defense attorney’s fees? Maybe taking him to lunch and dinner everyday?
It sure opens our eyes to the reason why our contract negotiated by UTD from MDCPS simply echoed Rudy Crew’s June 15 2006 performance objectives where he offers $40k (why would a union not ask for MORE than what the management offers?) - http://shawnbeightol.com/supestargets.doc
It sure opens our eyes to the reason why our UTD president suggested in January in her Open Letter that the original health care package was recommended even though it would cost the average employee $530 more dollars each year.
I wonder how MDCPS can cut programs to children (like they were going to do with “Dial-a-Teacher” for lack of $10,000; like tutoring; like summer school; like field trips; etc) while continuing to fund UTD salaries?
It seems MDCPS has a way of oiling the machinery with money.
I, for one, am a unionist opposed to being bought out by the management that I am bound to negotiate against and represent against. I am fully supportive of UTD, but I am completely against it being subsidized by the organization (MDCPS) that it is hired by members via dues (the highest in the US?) to represent and negotiate against.
Regards,
Shawn Beightol
From Ira Paul (irajpaul@bellsouth.net ). MDCPS is funding the following UTD employees at the amounts stated
1. Arthur Leichner $70,325
2. Thomas Lander $81,010
3. Paul Grolitzer $70,325
4. Karyn Cunningham $67,565
5. Wanda Santos $56,334
6. Jeffrey Redmon $53,100
7. John Roques $51,414
8. Teresa Martin-Major $47,000
9. Mariene Desdunes $45,293
10. Jason Joseph $47,700
11. Thomas Gammon $89,718
12. Octavio Santiesteban $52,331
13. Karen Aronowitz $44,500
14. Michael Molnar $41,400
15. Fredrick Ingram $39,943
16. Natalie Moton $45,984
17. Charles Belekis $70,325
18. Leona Williams $39,154
From UTD (http://www.utofd.com/UTD_Budget/EmployeesSalaries103107.pdf ):
UNITED TEACHERS OF DADE
PAYROLL SCHEDULE - As of October 31, 2007
Annual
Position
Name
Formula
Salary
Member Services Assistant
Antenor,
R.
Per Teamsters Contract
33,001
Accountant
Berry,
K.
Per Employment Contract
56,506
Organizer, assistant
Berry,
L.
Per Teamsters Contract
40,334
Organizer
Bethel,
A.
Per Teamsters Contract
67,000
Dir Ed Policy
Biro,
R.
Per Employment Contract
91,402
Webmaster/Assistant
Blakely,
D.
Per Teamsters Contract
44,001
Dir Communications
Cayon,
M.
Per Employment Contract
74,256
Legal Svcs Coord
Daniels,
S.
Per Teamsters Contract
82,500
Organizer
Dorado,
T.
Per Teamsters Contract
56,000
Admin Asst.
Dyess,
J.
Per Teamsters Contract
40,334
Admin Asst.
Esquijarosa,
C.
Per Teamsters Contract
72,442
Chief of Staff
Falco,
D.
Per Employment Contract
93,500
Organizer
Fullwood,
P.
Per Teamsters Contract
56,000
Organizer
Gamboa,
M.
Per Teamsters Contract
56,000
Exec Asst.
Garcia-Coppel,
J.
Per Employment Contract
74,880
Organizer Asst.
George,
D.
Per Teamsters Contract
40,334
Information Tech
Haithcock,
C.
Per Teamsters Contract
56,000
Graphics Design.
Hann,
T.
Per Teamsters Contract
67,000
Receptionist
Hylton,
A.
Per Teamsters Contract
40,334
Dir Memb Svc
Joseph,
J.
Released TSA
80,402
Organizer
Jordan,
M.
Per Teamsters Contract
50,500
Organizer
Katz,
A.
Per Teamsters Contract
85,500
Assistant
Lewis,
L.
Per Employment Contract
25,667
Political/Legislative
Lopez,
E.
Per Teamsters Contract
82,080
Org Asst.
Lopez,
J.
Per Teamsters Contract
67,000
Personnel/Acct Asst.
Macrohon,
K.
Per Employment Contract
35,000
Organizer
Mann,
M.
Per Teamsters Contract
85,500
Bookkeeper
McKee,
M.
Per Employment Contract
38,033
Organizer
McKinney,
V.
Per Teamsters Contract
85,500
Bargaining/Legislative
Minor,
J.
Per Teamsters Contract
67,000
Dir Organizing
Molnar,
M.
Released TSA
75,000
Economic Svcs
Pack,
D.
Per Teamsters Contract
40,334
Dir Finance/Ops
Podnar,
G.
Per Employment Contract
95,931
Org Asst.
Punal,
A.
Per Teamsters Contract
47,667
Retiree Prez
Regna,
D.
Per Agreement
9,000
Dir Stwd Trng
Redmon,
J.
Released TSA
84,000
Organizer
Rios,
M.
Per Teamsters Contract
50,500
Organizer
Stewart,
D.
Per Teamsters Contract
56,000
Org Asst.
Winkler,
C.
Per Teamsters Contract
33,001
Legal Svcs Asst
Zwick,
Y.
Per Teamsters Contract
45,000
Executive Board
Executive Board
Board
Per Agreement
39,600
President
Aronowitz,
K.
Per AFT Calculation, based
129,987
First VP
Leichner,
A.
Per AFT Calculation, based
116,988
Secretary/Treasurer
Ingram,
F.
Per AFT Calculation, based
116,988
TSA
RELEASED
ON
POOL DAYS
2007
-
2008
Position
Name
Formula
Supplement
Political Orgzr
Cunningham,
K.
Pool days
5,000.00
+Summer daily rate
Organizer
Desdunes,
M.
Pool days
5,000.00
+Summer daily rate
Ed Policy Tchr Coord
Gammon,
T.
Pool days
10,000.00
Organizer
Grolitzer,
P.
Pool days
5,000.00
+Summer daily rate
Organizer
Lander,
T.
Pool days
5,000.00
+Summer daily rate
Organizer
Martin-Major,
T.
Pool days
5,000.00
+Summer daily rate
Assistant
Moton,
N.
Pool days
1,300.00
Organizer
Roques,
J.
Pool days
5,000.00
+Summer daily rate
Organizer
Santiesteban,
O.
Pool days
5,000.00
Organizer
Santos,
W.
Pool days
5,000.00
+Summer daily rate
