Correction: due to an editing error, an earlier version of this story stated that KRESA did not comment on whether it was seeking to postpone an Unfair Labor Practice hearing. In fact, it did. This version of the story reflects those comments. WMUK regrets the error.
A judge is expected to decide Tuesday whether to postpone a hearing on labor complaints against the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency. That's according to the Kalamazoo Career Technical Education Association, a union for instructors at KRESA.
In an emailed statement, KRESA Superintendent Dedrick Martin said the agency was not seeking to delay the hearing.
The agency serves school districts in the Kalamazoo area and provides career and technical training.
To date, the union has filed six unfair labor practice complaints against KRESA, which are set to be heard by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission Thursday, according to the KCTEA.
But union president Brian Brusach said KRESA has asked to move the hearing to March, adding that the agency says it needs more time to prepare.
He said the union hopes to maintain the original hearing date, so the issues can be resolved sooner rather than later.
Martin said that KRESA also wants to resolve the issues sooner rather than later.
“KRESA is not delaying this hearing," he wrote. "The schedule changed because the KCTEA submitted a late amendment after materials for the original hearing were already exchanged and just days before the hearing was set to begin in mid-December," he added, referring to an earlier date set for the hearing before the KCTEA added more ULPs.
"As a result, the judge postponed the meeting. Despite KRESA offering availability to meet in January, the KCTEA was not available."
"KRESA remains committed to a fair, timely process and will continue to fully participate within the scheduling parameters set by the Administrative Law Judge," he added.
The state agency in charge of the Employment Relations Commission did not respond to a request to confirm it will consider moving the hearing.
Michael Symonds reports for WMUK through the Report for America national service program.
