LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Clark County Educators Association, the union that represents 18,000 Clark County teachers, filed to appeal the injunction order aimed at stopping teachers from conducting “rolling sickouts” which have caused several schools to cancel classes over the past few weeks.
The appeal was filed in Nevada Supreme Court Thursday, one day after a Clark County District Court judge sided with the Clark County School District and said the sickouts constituted a strike and went against Nevada law which doesn’t allow teachers to strike.
John Vellerdita, the executive director for CCEA, stresses the union was not involved in the teacher absences.
“I think what the community should recognize, and try to understand and appreciate, is these teachers are speaking out and essentially saying, it’s bad,” he said.
The appeal asks for an emergency motion to stop the injunction saying “that is facially invalid for
vagueness, non-specificity, and overbreadth. CCEA asks this Court to stay the order of the district court until an impending emergency, expedited appeal can be resolved.”
Teachers rallied at several schools including Spring Valley High School early Thursday morning asking for better pay ahead of the school board meeting in the evening.
“What happened yesterday in court has not deterred the determination and effort on the part of our members. What happened has not slowed down our efforts to get a contract,” one union member said.
CCEA and CCSD have been unable to reach an agreement on a new contract for the teachers. CCSD said the two sides are at an impasse and the only way to resolve the issue would be arbitration.
