Americans for Fair Treatment v. REA
CASE SUMMARY
The Fairness Center represented Americans for Fair Treatment in a lawsuit and administrative complaint challenging the Reading Education Association (“REA”) practice of forcing the Reading School District (“District”) to expend taxpayer dollars on the salary and benefits of the REA President. The practice of paying these union officials, often referred to as “ghost teachers,” hurts other Pennsylvania school districts as well.
Since 2011, the REA President cost Reading taxpayers more than $580,000, even while working exclusively for the union. On top of receiving a generous salary and other benefits, the REA President accrued seniority as if he were still teaching in the classroom. Additionally, the President collected pension credits in the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (“PSERS”) as if he were working as a public school employee.
Americans for Fair Treatment filed a lawsuit and administrative complaint with PSERS to expose this misuse of taxpayer dollars and hold the REA, the District, and PSERS accountable.
Americans for Fair Treatment v. Reading Education Association and Reading School District
In May 2018, the plaintiff filed a praecipe of discontinuance after the defendants acquiesced in substantial part to the plaintiff’s requested relief.
Who pays ‘ghost teachers’? Labor group to cover Pa. district costs when teachers work for union full time
May 9, 2018 |
Reading teachers union to reimburse taxpayers for ‘ghost’ teacher costs
May 9, 2018 |
Trib editorial: State needs to exorcise ghost teachers
January 4, 2018 |
Editorial: School district shouldn’t pay for union activities
December 29, 2017 |
Reading School District, teachers union agree taxpayers won’t pay union president
December 22, 2017 |
Officials Sued As Teachers Skip Class, $500,000 In Taxpayer Money Funneled To Local Union
June 7, 2017 |
2nd PA district faces lawsuit over ‘ghost teachers’ paid by taxpayers to work for union full time
June 7, 2017 |
Pennsylvania school district hit with ‘ghost teacher’ lawsuit
June 6, 2017 |
Group sues Reading School District over union job
June 3, 2017|
Press Releases
Ghost Teachers Cost Reading School District More Than $500,000
June 2, 2017
Reading Taxpayers Victorious in Ghost Teacher Battle
May 9, 2018
Court Documents
Complaint (PSERS)
June 2, 2017
Complaint (Court of Common Pleas of Berks County)
June 2, 2017
Defendant’s Preliminary Objections
June 27, 2017
Order on Preliminary Objections
September 29, 2017
Plaintiff’s Praecipe to Discontinue
May 9, 2018