As Madison Teachers union head John Matthews was asserting his members were legitimately sick at the start of the protests at the state capitol, new evidence suggests he was organizing a sick-out that shut down Madison Public Schools for four days in late February.
Madison school official and union leaders did not enjoy the cozy relationship protesters at the Capitol portrayed to the media, according to an open records request by the MacIver Institute.
The MacIver News Service examined emails between MMSD Superintendent Dan Nerad and his staff and MTI Executive Director John Matthews. Many of the emails concerned the teacher sick out and how the district would make up the days.
The tone of their conversations often broke from civility. At one point, Matthews chewed out Nerad for visiting his sick mother in a Kenosha hospital instead of negotiating with MTI over the make up days.
The following account offers some insight into what was going on behind the scenes as protests raged around the Capitol.
Tuesday, February 15th
The first massive protests began at the Capitol on Tuesday, February 15th, after Governor Walker announced his budget repair bill limiting collective bargaining the Friday before. Madison school officials had received indications teachers intended on staging a sick out starting the next day.
Bob Nadler, the human resources director, sent an email to teachers warning them not to do it. For employees who were genuinely sick, they would need documentation from a doctor.
“If you do not provide this documentation, you will not be allowed to use personal or family illness leave and your pay will be docked,” Nadler wrote.
John Matthews responded, “Yikes, people who are ill and you threaten them?”
(Later, in April, it was learned MTI organized these sickouts through a voicemail message leaked to conservative talk radio show host Vicki McKenna)
Later that day, Dan Nerad reached out to Matthews, asking him to discourage the sick out, while stating the importance the two men work together and support one another in the days ahead.
Matthews wrote back stating the protest was already having an impact and “what teachers are doing is based on their own conscience, for education, the children in our schools, for their own families.”
MTI’s March 4th newsletter later explained “Tuesday night, MTI Faculty Representative Council met in the largest meeting in several years and made recommendation that all MTI members report to the Capitol all day on Wednesday, rather that to school.”
Read more >>