version 2/23
The #MeToo campaign asks us all take a closer look at how we can improve the relationship between power, gender, and workplace culture, both on campus and in the unions that represent us.
Our campuses are governed by federal law, most relevant in this case is Title IX, and as faculty we are mandatory reporters of any sexual harassment, sexual violence, domestic abuse, and sexual discrimination. We are not allowed to keep silent, or wait and see if they work it out. Every campus has a Title IX Coordinator who must follow strict procedures to protect the victim and allow due process for the accused. If you have any doubts about a situation, contact them immediately:
San Diego Community College District
Grossmont-Cuyamaca College District
Our unions are unfortunately not governed by Title IX, and so we all need to step forward to do more of the kind of #MeToo activism to ensure that our unions stay on the right side of justice and respect. Part of the problem is that a union is required to provide legal representation to guarantee that employees accused of misconduct in the workplace are afforded due process. This is great, but it means the union leadership tends to have a close relationship with some of its creepiest members. And, it is vulnerable to conflicts of interest within the union: what happens if a person who normally provides legal advice on that process becomes part of a lawsuit and investigation?
In the AFT Guild we have seen a pattern of condoning sexual harassment and spousal abuse. We saw strong support from the AFT Guild for mayor Bob Filner, who was forced out of office because of sexual harassment complaints. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of AFT Guild dues and labor went to support Filner’s campaign for mayor, and either the union leadership failed to vet the candidate, or they knew of the problems and chose to keep silent.
The AFT Guild is active in the San Diego and Imperial County Labor Council, and Jim Mahler, President of the AFT Guild, also serves on the Executive Board of the Labor Council. When Mickey Kasparian, former President of the Labor Council, was accused of sexual harrasment, the AFT Guild took a “wait and see” position instead of joining the call for justice.
More recently the AFT Guild circled the wagons to prevent transparency over allegations of domestic abuse by the AFT Guild’s lawyer, Ricardo Ochoa. The AFT Guild protected Ochoa, and isolated his victim. Dovie Yoana King called Ochoa out for hypocrisy, and the Union for failing to support her:
As I reflect upon my difficult journey to escape the abuse, sadly I am unable to say that I had broad community support. I was shunned by many of my professional colleagues — even by people who were aware that Ricardo had unfairly locked me out of our joint husband-wife law practice on the day he was served with the restraining order and divorce papers.
In two recent Facebook posts, Lori Saldaña, a professor at San Diego Continuing Education, and candidate for San Diego County Supervisor addressed the cost of complicity, not only to the victims of abuse, but in monetary terms of actual union dues spent to address these problems:
January 29:
Many women who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual harassment and sexual assault are speaking up & advocating for others. Today I want to help Dovie Yoana King do that.
Dovie is Founder & Director of Survivors of Abuse Rising for Justice (SOAR for Justice). She was an AFT Guild Local 1931 member when she divorced her abuser, attorney Ricardo Ochoa.
Dovie’s story relates to what’s happening in the San DIego labor community this year. Ochoa is still employed by my Aft Guild and also the San Diego Labor Council- the same group loudly clamoring for the resignation of another man accused of abuse against women.
Dovie was subjected to years of domestic violence- both physical and emotional. She continues to struggle with PTSD. But when she asked our AFT President for help he ignored a court order & refused her request for a safe workspace during a difficult divorce.
Instead he locked her out of their shared office space and told her to contact Ochoa for access to the office to retrieve her belongings.
These actions were the subject of an independent legal investigation by AFT. However, results were never shared with AFT members in San Diego.
I have requested a report to help prevent similar situations from happening again & to develop ways to support abuse survivors within AFT. Why?
AFT – American Federation of Teachers represents educators. The majority of members are women. Domestic abusers often carry their violent behavior into their wives’ schools & workplaces- so addressing domestic violence and protecting AFT members is important not only for teachers’ personal safety, but to protect our colleagues & students on campus.
No #AFTunion member who reports abuse should be denied safe accommodations to do her job. We have taken steps to improve safety for students in this situation following the murder of Diana Gonzalez at City College.
Now, we need to do more for teachers and others who work on campus.
As a community college teacher who has protected a student & her child from an abusive spouse, when he followed them to our campus, I say #TimesUp for protecting abusers of anyone- especially when it’s an #AFTunion member who reports domestic violence to our elected leadership.
February 12:
Re:my recent criticisms of the San Diego Labor-Council and AFT Guild Local 1931 – in January, I learned of this case of domestic violence and long-term abuse involving a former AFT Guild Local 1931 member. I cannot support the actions of a union when it fails to respond to a member’s request for help after enduring years of domestic violence.
I will not be silent when those actions resulted in additional costs to members to conduct an independent legal investigation to determine if the Guild’s action failed to provide support for a woman who asked for help. And I remain concerned that the results of that investigation have not been shared with members- who paid for it.
For details about the abuse and the costs incurred by an AFT member, see:
By Dovie Yoana King
MEDIUM.COM
NY Times article: “Caught in the Middle of #MeToo: Unions That Represent Accusers and Accused”
https://nyti.ms/2YEmLwl