Dena Levitz, The Examiner
2008-04-29 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

WASHINGTON -

The vice president of D.C.’s teachers union has filed a lawsuit against the union president, other union leaders, the mayor and the schools chancellor, alleging that they have suppressed his legal right to speak out about schools reform.

Filed late Friday in U.S. District Court, Nathan Saunders’ suit claims he has repeatedly been the target of intimidation because of critical comments he made about the direction of the 4,200-member union and long-struggling school system.

In the suit, Saunders also accuses Washington Teachers’ Union President George Parker of filing false financial reports, giving contract favors to family members and trying to oust Saunders from his position. The filing uses a civil application of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, also known as RICO, to make the case that each of these alleged infractions has weakened and corroded the union.

The suit is the latest episode in a struggle between Parker and Saunders over the direction of the union, as contract negotiations run months late, and teachers report feeling increasingly vulnerable since  Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s reform efforts began. Parker has been largely supportive of Rhee’s initiatives, while Saunders has criticized moves such as a buyout program that gives certain teachers bonus pay to leave, and legislation that allows the chancellor to get rid of hundreds of central office staff.

“A big piece of this is defending free speech,” Saunders told The Examiner. “It’s really about retaliation — when you speak out about policies and positions, how you’re punished.”

Saunders acted as his own lawyer in the filing. Rhee’s spokeswoman said she was not aware of the suit.

Calls to Parker and the teachers union spokeswoman were not returned Monday.

The union is still recovering from an embezzlement scandal from four years ago in which a judge ruled that former organization President Barbara Bullock stole $5 million in union funds to buy herself lavish gifts including furs.

dlevitz@dcexaminer.com