MichiganRadio

DFT Meeting Breaks Down Amid Accusations of Vote-Rigging DETROIT, MI (Michigan Radio) - A teachers' union meeting in Detroit abruptly ended tonight after erupting into chaos.

About 1,300 teachers signed petitions to recall Detroit Federation of Teachers President Keith Johnson from office.

Lisa Sinnett is a teacher at Western International High School. She says a majority of the members at the meeting tried but failed to put the recall question on the meeting agenda.

"They lied," Sinnett said about the vote tally. "And so if I had any doubts in my mind to listen to what Keith Johnson had to say - which was what I wanted, to hear what he had to say when I came in, to address what people said - I don't have any more doubts that that was a corrupt and false vote."

Many union members say they're unhappy about concessions, about new standardized tests, and other issues they say Johnson should be fighting more vigorously.

Union leaders say yesterday's vote was fair. They say the recall petitions did not meet constitutional requirements.

"It was an honest vote. People counted it, you could see the numbers," said DFT Executive Vice President Mark O'Keefe.

Contact Sarah Hulett at sarahhu@umich.edu
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