Is Audrey Soglin a bully? The IEA General Counsel writes me a letter.
Fred,Mitch,
Hope you are doing well! While I have no desire to become a focus of your or anyone else’s blog, I felt it was important to send you a note about a recent posting on your blog, in which you made the following statement: “Then there’s IEA Executive Director Audrey Soglin and former IEA President Ken Swanson. These two sad excuses for union leadership were sent to pressure the CTU into accepting the Edelman language. They treated the newly elected reform president of the CTU like the new kid at school. They acted like bullies, plain and simple.” As you know, Audrey and I were the primary IEA representatives who directly participated in the discussions which led to SB 7. In particular, I was present for the discussion regarding the CTU strike authorization vote. At no time, did Audrey, Ken (who wasn’t there for the discussion), me or anyone from IFT bully or otherwise pressure CTU President Karen Lewis to accept the strike authorization vote language. She along with the other CTU representatives present, as well as its legal counsel, weighed the plusses and minuses regarding the issue and decided to accept it. Both the IEA and IFT supported whatever the CTU believed was in its best interest. Anyone who knows Karen clearly understands she is not a person who is susceptible to bullying. Thanks.
Mitch
Thanks for your good wishes. I am doing well and looking forward to my retirement and future activity as an IEA Retiree.
Although we don’t know each other well, I have nothing but respect for the work you have done for our Local over