Education Association to File Labor Charge Against Moon Schools

Support staff union officials will file an unfair labor practice charge and grievances against the after a series of furloughs approved last month, said a union spokesman. 

An education association official said the union is also "investigating possible discrimination" in the layoffs. 

Union spokesman Butch Santicola said the Pennsylvania Education Association will file the unfair labor practice charge before the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board within the next week. 

"Our plan at this point is to file (unfair labor practice charges) within a week or so," Santicola said. "But we're hoping that we can sit down and get these things resolved." 

Union members held a meeting on Monday to discuss taking action in the wake of the furloughs. 

The Moon Area School District said in  last month that furloughs will impact 18 special education positions, 6 library assistants, 5 clerical positions, 6 nurse/health assistants and 14 cafeteria workers. Three extended-day kindergarten positions will also be eliminated, as the district transitions to a 

In total, 52 positions will be furloughed. The district is re-opening 49 positions for re-hire, which employees can bid on. Union contracts stipulate positions must be furloughed and then re-opened after hours are revised. 

The staffing changes will save the district $425,000 in the upcoming school year. The Moon Area School Board approved the furloughs in June. Board president Sandra McCurdy told Patch that the stagnant economy and increasing district costs necessistated the layoffs. 

In a letter addressed to Superintendent Donna Milanovich and the Moon Area School Board, union officials ask the district to "stop the furlough of staff and the replacement of staff with part-time workers."

The letter makes no mention of an unfair labor practice charge, but says the cutbacks could result in "expensive litigation." 

Santicola said the union is investigating claims of gender-based discrimination in the furloughs because each of the laid-off staff members are women. He said he was unsure if the investigation will result in a discrimination suit against the district. 

"They were looking for a place to cut within the district," Santicola said. "Nobody looked at the bonuses that the administration received. They hit the people who could least afford (to be laid off)." 

Moon Area spokeswoman Megan Edwards and district solicitor Michael Brungo could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

The against the district in February 2011 after a months-long contract impasse between the union and district, but later dropped the charges after the parties reached a contract.