Steve Conn Removed From Office And Kicked Out Of Detroit Federation Of Teachers
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Leaders of the union that represents Detroit teachers have ousted president Steve Conn.
Conn was removed from the presidency Wednesday and kicked out of the Detroit Federation of Teachers.
There was a two-day union hearing last week that centered on allegations of misconduct.
Conn's dismissal followed a two day trial last week, in which he was found guilty of several violations -- including illegally canceling union meetings and failing to investigate alleged abuses against union members.
Conn has denied wrongdoing and is vowing to appeal to teachers to overturn the decision. A meeting is planned in September.
Former DFT president Keith Johnsons said that Conn didn't play by the rules.
"You have to rely upon Executive Board if you wish to take any type of action that deviates from what is the standard," said "and Mr. Conn felt that as president he could do what he wanted - any way that he wanted - thus forcing the executive board's hand to conduct a trial and ultimately the evidence and the testimony proved to be his downfall," said former DFT President Keith Johnson.
Conn is a fiery activist who narrowly won the presidency in January. In April, hundreds of teachers with Conn's blessing took a day off to protest Gov. Rick Snyder's plan to overhaul Detroit's troubled school system.
The absences forced the district to close 18 schools for a day.
Steve Conn did not respond to an earlier attempt from WWJ Newsradio 950 for reaction.