Local News in Brief : Teacher Battling Union

A Culver City High School teacher, who launched a cartoon campaign last year belittling his union’s efforts to win increased health benefits, has filed grievances, complaining that union officers and a school district superintendent are trying to harass him into silence.

The grievances were filed with the state Public Employment Relations Board by Howard Bennett, 58, an English teacher who since November has been sending his fellow teachers cartoons that pointedly depict the Culver City Federation of Teachers’ failure to extend its health benefits past age 65.

Bennett said he has been under scrutiny by the union and the Culver City Unified School District and has been singled out for enforcement of minor rules violations.

“They are trying to shut me up and get me fired,” he said.

Bennett was reprimanded in writing on April 11 for not calling the school to say he would be out another week recovering from recent eye surgery. He also has been ordered to stop using teachers’ mailboxes.

Joe Nazzaretta, federation vice president, said the union disagrees with the way Bennett has tried to force the issue, but agrees with his cause and has not harassed him or tried to get him fired.