AFT Removes Orange County Teachers Union Leaders

The American Federation of Teachers is removing the president and other leaders from the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association. 

According to a report by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the Orange County union leaders, particularly the president, Diana Moore, were not following the rules that provide checks and balances, like ignoring the number of signatures needed on credit card purchases. There were also issues with internal elections. 

"There's a big difference between fighting for what you believe and having legitimate differences of opinion and then voting on it," Randi Weingarten, president of the AFT said, "that's part of what our rules require, that's different than that internal bickering."

Weingarten said the AFT has taken over local unions only four times in seven years, one of which was the Broward Teachers Union three years ago.

Vice President of AFT, Dennis Kelly will be steering the Orange County union starting next week. 

"This is about making sure that people are treated fairly, and everyone- every member feels like the union is their home and has their back. There's not one side that is the favorite versus another side," Weingarten said.

Weingarten said elections for new leadership are to be held before the start of the 2016 school year.

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