Curtis Kelenske: 5th/6th-grade Multi-age Teacher, Leland Public Schools Years in Education: 13 Type of non-union experience: 1 year in private Catholic school, 6 in a charter school What was it like working in a school without a union? The working conditions and work load in the charter school were very difficult. You had to do whatever…
Brett Hudson: Health and P/E Teacher, East Jackson Community Schools Years in Education: 2 Type of non-union experience: Charter School What was it like working in a school without a union? As a new teacher (only having experience without a union) I am not too familiar with the collective bargaining process. However, it was pretty…
Rob Atwood: P/E and Health Teacher, Baldwin Community Schools Years in education: 8 Type of non-union experience: charter school – 5 years; virtual charter school – 2.5 years What was it like working in a school without a union? In my traditional and virtual school teaching experience, the employees did not have a say on…
Katie Condon: 5th-grade Teacher, Saginaw Public School District Years in education: 5 Type of non-union experience: Three years at a charter school What was it like working in a school without a union? When I first started working at the charter school, it wasn’t that bad. I had the assumption that I was going to…
Michael Adams: 3rd-grade Teacher, Holt Public Schools Years in education: 6 Type of non-union experience: Michigan charter school What was it like working in a school without a union? It was the worst! Working without a union left me feeling like I had no voice to advocate for students or myself. Teachers were in constant…
Bill Boerman: STEM Teacher/K-7, Holland Public Schools Years in education: 22 Type of non-union experience: 7½ years at charter schools in Michigan; 10 years in public schools in Colorado that had no collective bargaining rights What was it like working in a school without a union? There were many added pressures working in a non-union environment that…
Amy Lawrence: 7th-grade Math Teacher, Schoolcraft Community Schools Years in education: 9 Type of non-union experience: charter school What was it like working in a school without a union? At the school I worked at, we were often required to go to a week of additional PD/training in the summer, as well as attend 5-7…
Shannon Ager: Kindergarten Teacher, Novi Community Schools Years in education: 6 Type of non-union experience: Two charter schools What was it like working in a school without a union? It was often frustrating working in a school without a union. Teachers were not always treated in the best manner, particularly in terms of our working conditions. I…
Michael Adamisin: 9th-grade Science Teacher, OPEA President, Oak Park Schools Years in Education: 6 Type of non-union experience: One year at a Detroit-area charter school What was it like working in a school without a union? In a word… unnerving. The year I was there saw >50% staff turnover from the previous year, all replaced…
Aesha Baldwin: Field Services Consultant, MEA Type of non-union experience: state without collective bargaining rights (GA) What was it like working in a state with no collective bargaining? It was hard, but at that time, it was all I knew. I thought all middle school teachers ate with their kids every day. I thought having…
