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Teachers and parents tell Holyoke School Committee non-renewal looks like retaliation; union plans charges
Summary
Multiple teachers, union leaders and parents told the Holyoke School Committee that a recent non‑renewal of a high‑school teacher was retaliatory and urged immediate reinstatement; the Holio Teachers Association said it will file unfair labor practice charges under Mass. Gen. Laws c.150E.
Public commenters at the Holyoke School Committee’s June meeting accused district officials of retaliating against a visibly active union member after the educator’s contract was not renewed.
"This is an explicit violation of protected union activity under Massachusetts General Law 150E," said Nick Kh, who identified himself as an ethnic-studies teacher and president of the Holio Teachers Association, reading a union statement that called on the district to reinstate "Bob Williams" and to cease acts of union interference. Several other teachers and parents echoed that account, saying the non‑renewed teacher had proficient or exemplary evaluations and strong student support.
Saskia Fabricant, who said she has taught in the district for seven years, said the timing and record of the non‑renewal raised questions. "Why was this person not renewed?" she asked, describing the teacher as active in bargaining, trainings and union leadership.
Parents and other staff described the teacher as a popular, effective instructor who helped students and supported colleagues. "If this non‑renewal stands, every union member, every teacher in the district is wondering, 'Am I next?'" Micah Simone, a union leader, told the committee.
Committee members did not take an immediate vote on personnel actions during the public-comment period. Chair Miss Felisiano reminded speakers that personnel matters are handled through administrative and legal processes and said the committee would not hear comments that delve into individual personnel cases.
The Holio Teachers Association said in remarks that it will file unfair-labor-practice charges with the state Department of Labor Relations and urged any member who believes they were targeted to contact the union. The statement cited Mass. Gen. Laws c.150E as the statutory basis for protected concerted activity.
At the end of the public-comment period the committee moved on to its business agenda; no committee action to reinstate the teacher was recorded in the meeting minutes.
The committee may receive labor-related paperwork or a formal charge after the union completes its filing; the record of any such filing is not in the committee’s June meeting transcript.
