Ramos v. Allentown Education Association
CASE SUMMARY
Teachers are paid to teach—at least that’s what parents and taxpayers probably think. But in Allentown, a teacher’s salary and benefits are also paid to a full-time union employee—a “ghost teacher” who hasn’t taught a class in years.
The cost to state and local taxpayers since 2003 exceeds $1 million.
The Fairness Center represents Allentown taxpayers Steven Ramos, Scott Armstrong, and Public School Employees’ Retirement System member James Williams, in a suit challenging the Allentown Education Association’s (“AEA’s”) practice of using taxpayer dollars to fund the salary and benefits of AEA’s President. The AEA President receives taxpayer dollars for her position despite the fact that she works full-time for the AEA.
Since 1990, teachers’ contract between the Allentown School District (“District”) and the AEA have contained a provision entitling the AEA President to full release time from Professional duties “to conduct Association business during the work day, without loss in wages, benefits or other contractual advantages.” Since 2000, over $1.3 million of taxpayers’ dollars have gone to fund the employee of a private organization. The AEA’s current President left the classroom in 2009 to become the AEA President. While on leave doing exclusively AEA work, the District has continued to pay the President’s salary, provided her with insurance and benefits, and allowed her to accrue seniority as if she were still working in a classroom. Additionally, the President continues to accrue pension credits in PSERS as if she were a public school employee.
The Fairness Center is filing suit to expose this misuse of taxpayer dollars and hold the AEA and District accountable to the law.
Steven Ramos, Scott Armstrong, and James Williams v. Allentown Education Association, Public School Employees Retirement System, and Allentown School District
This case was voluntarily discontinued after the plaintiffs achieved their goals.
Teacher Loses Pension for Doing Union Work Instead of Her Job
June 25, 2016 |
Pennsylvania Bill Seeks to Amend Union Leave Regulations
June 14, 2016 |
Stop paying ‘ghost teachers’ to work for unions
June 14, 2016 |
Bill would hunt down ‘ghost teachers’
June 8, 2016 |
PSERS weighs in on lawsuit on ASD union president’s salary
May 25, 2016 |
No pension for ‘ghost teacher,’ says state agency
May 25, 2016 |
States constitutions can rein in union subsidy
May 23, 2016 |
The Public Pays for Union Political Activity
March 21, 2016 |
Allentown shouldn’t pay for ‘ghost’ teacher
March 18, 2016 |
Allentown teachers receive raises, protection as part of contract
March 10, 2016 |
Who Ya Gonna Call? How To Tackle The “Ghost Teacher” Problem
March 5, 2016 |
Lawsuit over pay of teachers union president misguided
March 3, 2016 |
PA School District Spent $1.3M Taxpayer Dollars On Union Salaries
February 24, 2016 |
Poll: Who should pay for a full-time teacher union president?
February 24, 2016 |
Acusan a Distrito Escolar de Allentown de pagar a empleado “fantasma”
February 25, 2016 |
Lawsuit seeks to end practice of paying teachers union president while not teaching
February 25, 2016 |
Press Releases
Allentown Teachers’ Union Bilks Taxpayers Out of $1 Million+
February 24, 2016
Allentown Ghost Teacher Illegally Receiving Pension Credit
May 25, 2016
Allentown Ghost Teachers Lose Illegal Pension Credits
June 24, 2016
Union Must Repay Allentown Ghost Teacher Costs
August 30, 2017
Teachers’ Union Held Accountable for Allentown ‘Ghost Teachers’
March 4, 2020
Pa. Taxpayers, Teacher File Brief Seeking to End Ghost Teaching in New Jersey
April 16, 2020
Court Documents
Petition for Review
February 24, 2016
PSERS’ Preliminary Objections to Petition for Review
March 24, 2016
AEA’s Preliminary Objections to Petition for Review
March 29, 2016
PSERS’ Brief in Support of Preliminary Objections
May 25, 2016
Petitioners’ Reply Brief
June 23, 2016
Commonwealth Court Order Transferring Case to Court of Common Pleas
December 21, 2016
Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas Order Staying Case
June 8, 2017
Plaintiffs’ Praecipe to Discontinue Action
February 11, 2020