Teacher ‘sickout strike’ illegal, says judge who ordered it to end; union appeals to Nevada Supreme Court

A Nevada judge issued Clark County School District (CCSD) a court order Wednesday against teachers’ union educators holding a “sickout strike,” where healthy teachers call in sick, which the judge called “illegal.” 

CCSD asked the Eighth Judicial District Court Judge, Crystal Eller, to address the “sickouts,” of Clark County School Association members, the Nevada Current reported. The school district also confirmed four schools were forced to cancel classes due to teacher shortages, Fox 5 reported.  

“Thankfully, the court found that a strike has occurred,” the district said in a statement to The Lion. “Because of the evidence of coordinated work stoppages by CCEA and its members, the court imposed a preliminary injunction to prevent any ongoing disruptions to the school district’s operations.  

“This action protects the children of the Clark County School District so they can receive the education they are entitled to.” 

One of the schools affected was Gibson Elementary, which had 87% of its licensed personnel call in sick, according to the Current. 

The sickout strike comes amid a dead end on contract negotiations between the school district and the teachers’ union, according to the preliminary injunction granted by Eller.  

“On August 1, 2023, the District first sought emergency injunctive relief based on 

Defendants’ credible threats that they would strike unless they received a contract that they found acceptable,” it read. 

CCSD had filed the temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to “stop the continuance of a strike by licensed educators represented by CCEA on September 11,” said a district press release.  

The district filed the motion due to the rise of “sickouts” which began on Sept. 1, with“ no indication that they [would] cease without court intervention and injunctive relief,” the district said.  

Thursday, all schools appeared open, according to a post on X, formerly Twitter, by Victor Joecks, a columnist at the Las Vegas-Review Journal. 

“Hearing all schools are open today,” he wrote. “Looks like the injunction against @cceanv worked. Imagine that. Big win for parents, Judge Crystal Eller and @SuptJaraCCSD.”

Erin Phillips, president of local Power2Parent, criticized the teachers’ union for making kids “bargaining chips.” 

“This is an illegal strike and a breach of their contract. You are not winning parents over like this. Our kids will not be your bargaining chips,” Power2Parent President Erin Phillips wrote on X. 

CCEA has filed a notice of appeal and emergency motion with the Nevada Supreme Court to lift the preliminary injunction, the Las Vegas-Review Journal reported. 

“With CCSD declaring an impasse in negotiations with CCEA, the arbitration process will proceed according to Nevada law,” the school district told The Lion. “In the meantime, educators will continue under the current negotiated contract and be compensated accordingly until a new agreement is reached.” 

The Lion reached out to Phillips and CCEA for comment, but neither replied by time of publication.