Turmoil Racks Teachers Union

But Saunders and others say the union has become dysfunctional under Parker: Teacher grievances have languished. Board members and building representatives have not received necessary training. The union has not produced a strategy on dealing with Rhee's plans to close and reorganize schools, as was required by the national union.

Rhee's plans "are weighty decisions," and teachers have "not had any union training this year," Saunders said. "That's a problem when you've got one of the most comprehensive paradigm changes [affecting teachers] in the country."

The national union dispatched representative George Bordenave last week to work with the union for about a year. The four-page agreement signed by Parker and the national union calls for Bordenave to "provide direct supervisory support and oversight over WTU's day-to-day operation." He will conduct a "full-scale evaluation" of the union and develop and implement a strategy for improving operations.

Bordenave is "going to look at the various areas of the union's performance," said David J. Strom, general counsel for the national union, including "negotiating a contract and dealing with the superintendent, mayor and council."

Meanwhile, some teachers have launched a recall campaign. The petition in circulation seeks to "remove the present president, vice president, executive board and board of trustees" and to "initiate and complete an election process that will result in the election of new officers."

"I'm totally frustrated with what's going on in the union," said Benita Nicholson, a librarian at Mildred Green Elementary in Southeast who is circulating the petition. "I think the infighting damages the union."

"The fighting has got to stop," said Nicholson, who served on the executive board when Bullock was president. "A house divided against itself will fall."

Staff writer Bill Turque contributed to this report.