United Teachers of International High School of New Orleans

Educators’ basic right to join together in a labor union affirmed

New Orleans— The National Labor Relations Board has approved a settlement of a labor complaint filed against International High School of New Orleans, directing the charter school to pay two teachers fired during a union organizing drive. 

The teachers, Stephanie Jackson and Frank Ruzicka, were leading members of the push for a union at IHSNO. The NLRB’s Region 15 determined they were illegally targeted for their organizing activities, in contravention of section 8(a)3 of the National Labor Relations Act. In addition to back pay

(New Orleans – September 25) Louisiana’s charter schools must recognize and bargain with unions if that is the desire of teachers and school employees, according to a unanimous ruling by the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The September 21 ruling by a three-judge panel affirmed a decision by the National Labor Relations Board, asserting that the International High School of New Orleans violated the National Labor Relations Act when the group holding the school’s charter refused to recognize the school’s bargaining unit.

“This is a victory for teachers, students and parents in New Orleans,”