AFT News:

OJO CALIENTE — The New Mexico Public Employees Labor Board revoked discipline issued against Sandoval by the Mesa Vista Consolidated School District for requesting hand sanitizer effective against COVID-19 for her co-workers and students.

As a result of the recent ruling, the Mesa Vista Consolidated School District, was required to publicly post a notice from the New Mexico Public Employees Labor Relations Board outlining violations of the Public Employees Bargaining Act and the collective bargaining agreement between the District and the Mesa Vista Federation of Teachers committed by Mesa Vista Consolidated School District.

In reaction to the ruling, American Federation Of Teachers (AFT) New Mexico President Whitney Holland and Mesa Vista Federation of Teachers Local #4346 President Teresa Sandoval released the following statements:

“We are pleased with the recent ruling by the New Mexico Public Employees Labor Relations Board, which affirmed rights granted and outlined by New Mexico’s Public Employee Bargaining Act, specifically rights of representation by a duly elected local union leader, targeting of local union leadership for actions directly related to employee representation, and failure to uphold aspects of the District’s collective bargaining agreement.

“This ruling is a very real reminder of our rights as employees of a local school district as well as the rights fought for and earned by local union officers, namely that they may fully represent and advocate on behalf of the district employees they represent,” Holland said.

“I am grateful to my union, AFT New Mexico, for sticking by my side as a local leader who was improperly disciplined by my local district administration. While stressful, this experience has not only strengthened my resolve to continue to advocate on behalf of the public educators I represent, but also sends a clear message to local school districts that they must abide by the terms of our local collective bargaining agreement. I hope educators in the Mesa Vista Consolidated School District will see this as a victory for us all and join as a member of our local union. We are truly strongest when we stand together,” Sandoval said.