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Once again, instead of working toward a contract, the WTU instead escalates the already-tense situation: https://warwickpost.com/wtu-announces-no-confidence-vote-thornton-furtado/

By taking a no-confidence vote in Thornton and Furtado, the WTU is clearly proving that it was never seeking a resolution to this impasse unless it gets everything it is demanding. The move also proves that the WTU is trying to salvage some kind of PR victory in light of its loss at the General Assembly, its decision to reject the mediated contract approved by the school committee in July, its disastrous sick-out on Oct. 6 at Pilgrim, and its failure to rally anyone beyond its vocal minority to its cause.

None of these actions has, in fact, improved the WTU's image among the parents and taxpayers. It is curious, then, why the union leadership continues with these stunts.

And to JohnStark's suggestion about de-certifying the union, the school committee may not be able to do that itself; however, Wisconsin's law that requires 51% of union membership [including those who do not show up at the vote] to recertify may be instructive here. If Warwick put that sort of measure in place -- which means that, for example, 100 teachers voting to stay and 101 not voting would result in failure of recertification -- it would force the WTU leadership to prove its effectiveness to its members, and place the entire burden of the WTU's future on their shoulders.

While Wisconsin's was a state law, perhaps a measure like this could be a local referendum.