Union, Edinburg school district clash
EDINBURG — Representatives of a local union claim the Edinburg school district has denied them access to campuses so they can make presentations to employees. They also accuse the district of refusing their members the right to have their dues automatically deducted from their paychecks.
The Southwest Workers' Union - which represents more then 3,000 school district auxiliary employees including bus drivers and custodial, cafeteria and maintenance workers in the San Antonio and Austin areas and the Rio Grande Valley - protested at the district's board of trustees meeting Tuesday in hopes they might gain the attention of board members.
"In 20 years of existence we have never run into problems just as this," said Camilo Garza, the union's labor organizer.
The district denies the claims, saying it has allowed all organizations to come onto campuses during different events to talk with employees, said Jacques Treviño, the school system's attorney.
As for the paychecks, current members already have their dues deducted, but the union wanted new employees to have their dues automatically deducted as well, Treviño said. With only three pay periods left this school year, that would not be cost-effective for the school system.
The district did say it would set up the payment plans for the following school year.
