Labor exploitation in Palos Verdes Estates: Where is a Union when you need one?
A revolving door is a common phrase to signify a repeating pattern of random hiring and firing of workers. Oftentimes a revolving door is enshrouded in secrecy and all kinds of unfairness. I am referring specifically to the problems facing a nonunion high school baseball coach at Palos Verdes High. That coach is facing the revolving door. However, this coach’s particular problem appears over and over in all sports in all schools where there are “Parents with Resources.â€
I am riled up about a revolving door for several high school baseball coaches at PVHS, but quickly my thoughts critique an even larger problem, statewide in scope, a bad situation facing all nonunion employees of school districts.
The fact is a revolving door for sports coaches at PVHS and beyond. This fact is entirely and indisputably bad for male and female student athletes. It must be changed.
The revolving door starts at PVHS with a lack/absence of a Grievance procedure for disgruntled parents. “Get a lawyer and make threats,†that is the process, now. PVHS makes itself vulnerable to “Parents With Resources†by cowering to unilateral complaints about whatever can be contrived, followed by threats to cajole the weakling school district (PVPUSD), followed soon thereafter with the coach being “leg go.†The story is repeated over and over at PVHS, in many sports for many years.
No truth, no fairness, no rights, nothing in writing, possibly ruining a young coach’s career as well. It’s a reflection of poor management at the most basic level AND it is very damaging to the advancement and growth of student athlete learners.
Palos Verdes Unified School District is one of many districts that are big exploiters of highly-qualified “walk on†labor statewide, and PVHS is an example of due process denied for all nonunion coaches. “Parents with resources†are the problem, nurtured by weak leadership.
PROPOSED SOLUTIONS: A proper and relevant Grievance procedure is lacking at PVPUD, with nil procedures for all parents to follow at PVHS (and beyond). The solution requires that top administrators not succumb to the noisiest parents with resources. Grievance procedures would ensure fairness and protect the District as it tries to achieve understanding and resolution of a complaint. I recommend the following steps:
1) Parents and Students fill out a basic form that contractually promises their willingness to submit to in-house arbitration of disputes at the outset;
2) Parents and Students are compelled to put their complaint in writing and the accused coach is compelled to respond to the complaint;
3) Parents and Students are compelled to face each other. Transparency should be the norm and intended to protect all parties from unfairness. The accused coach has the right to face his/her accusers who are witnesses against him/her; and
4) PVPUSD Administrators from top to bottom need to be stronger and smarter in protecting its workers. Listen to the majority and Do what is right and fair. Have a process that is simple and transparent. These are the best solutions I can propose.
CONCLUSION
I am interested to make noise that makes PVHS and PVPUSD a better place to work and learn. Right now there’s a destructive revolving door for nonunion coaches.
Sign the petition and join 200 other parents, coaches, student athletes, and teachers who demand equal rights for nonunion coaches at PVHS and in high school programs throughout California. Please make a statement or pose a question. Thanks.
