Bottom Lines

Hello and good morning Ms. Downing.

As a interested and curious reader of this incident, I would really like to know what the outcome is about this case because as an individual who wants to know more about the HISD and how the employees are treated? Also as someone wondering how good the school system is I am concerned because I'm seeing many kids who should be in school feeding their minds and building their futures out roaming the malls as well as the streets and that's not good. After reading once before about this situation and not being able to truly imagine that a faithful educational assistant was not alerted that she has been over paying her dues and after questioning the Administrators on up to the Superintendent that no one wanted to admit that someone was knowingly taking more than what was suppose to be given. This should be taken care of and Ms. Bass deserves to receive all of what she had been unknowingly paying. Honesty has always been the best policy and it should be performed in this case.

Thank you for your time.

HEADS UP!!! Just wanted to give the readers an update on the latest with HFT/AFT---they've decided to pay for a jury trail already knowing the financial stresses they've already caused me in the past! The money that they paid to pay for a jury trail they should have re-imbursed me the over-payment dues that are due to me and my family...I mean that would be a civil thing to do this holiday season. Right?

Your better off protecting yourself than to volunteer your services and to be apart of a UNION like HFT that will treat you like you've stolen something from them. What is the problem? The problem is HFT (its in black and white) this story is real simple...the money was taken so the money should be returned!

No one has ever stood up to Gayle Fallon and won!! This man....oooppppsss!! my bad this woman plays real dirty!! Your talking about a real dirty individual to stand up against...She has in the past caused individuals their jobs! The 'PEOPLE' have given her too much power to rob, steal and destroy--but I'm for right!! The money is owed to this yound lady and it should be given back to her. Let's see how Ms. Fallon moves her power now...it's NEVER for the good! Ms. Bass I'm proud of you to even want to go against this heartless woman. I'm hoping you make history by standing up and fighting for what's right! So many times our very own employers don't stand behind us--its really ashame that HISD has even allowed this to even happen to you! Better systems should be put in place to better serve and protect our employees. HISD has the power to direct HFT to pay this money back!! Good luck and as a reader I want to read about the final happenings to this story.

I love the fact tht u stood up for wht u believe in..Go cousin

How do you think your going to take money from a 'BLACK' woman and get away with it?! lol This story is really a no brainer for HFT--you've gotten caught now give the woman her money back! She's only fighting for what's rightfully hers and that's her money!!!

"No One is Trying To Cheat Her!"--This must be on Ms. Fallon's heart because this young lady NEVER stated that they were cheating her she simply just requested for a refund of her money. How is it that no one is protecting this young lady--both her employer nor her union!! This is really outrageous...I'm speechless because it's really a cut and dry situation. HFT took the money HFT should refund teh money entirely...PERIOD!

All I can say in most cases unions dues can often times be worst than bank overdraft fees...Good luck!

You've taken a hard hit this year already but you NEVER stopped ticking! Being the person that I know who you are you will continue to serve looking past all the small stuff...stay focused because again this is only a test! Don't fail--love ya!

FAVOR!!

I can't believe that HFT tried using to their defense that you had personal issues which caused you to over look your paycheck or money--the thing is it NEVER stopped your works! Your remarkable and incrdible Veronica even if they don't give you back your money--because in most cases that's what crooks do...my prayer is that God bless you 1,000 fold! Double for your troubles. Love ya!

I see trouble written all over this matter...RUN!

Wow! Is it worth all the trouble you guys are putting this young ladt through? I red about all of the money that these two organizations HISD/HFT make per year--the refund would be like a drop in the bucket for them to refund the differences.

Committed, Dedicated and well worth her troubles....give Ms. Bass back her money!

I feel that both HFT/HISD didn't do their job of protecting this young lady...with anything this young lady may NOT have felt the need to have to check her check stubs against the two most highly recognized organizations. However, now that the problem has come to light then I feel the money should be redirected to her for NOT just her over sight but just her committment of over seeing as a steward. I hope that HFT/HISD do the right thing--I'm sure they will.

Give the woman her money back....simple!

Give this woman her money back--Good gosh almighty! It's already hard enough to have individuals to stand proud and service our community on a volunteer base...to my understanding being a stewart is services given for 'FREE'! I'm a little alarmed by this story and has really caused me to view HFT/HISD in a whole new light! If your employer can't protect you and your union than who do you trust?

This story is so simple!!! Give the lady her freaking money back for God sake! We're already suffering in this economy and to have your union and your employer NOT protect ya come on for goodness sake! This young lady didn't go into the system to make up the dues list herself--the one that should be responsible for repaying this should be the one that actually put the information in the system since no one wants to assume responsibility! Thanks to the editor for pushing this story and being the voice for small people like this courageous lady--

Marcelina FloresHFT 2008 Membership Data Entry Clerk

Veronica Bass I am here for you! I was very disappointed in Ms. Fallon and her staff to allow this error to continue. I paid the price by losing my position with the Houston Federation of Teachers Union (HFT) in 2008. I was an Houston Independent School District employee for 23 years and I know how hard our educational staff work, for such little pay. My question to Ms. Fallon is "How can you be the voice of the professionals and hard working employees in education when you are not honest, fair and trust worthy to the members. How can the staff of this organization turn their face when they are aware of the wrong doing to it's members. The HFT members dues are the wages of HFT staff."

I am sorry that this had to happen to you Veronica but somebody has to bury the skunk.

SO IS THIS HOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS STAY IN BUSINESS, BY RIPPING OFF THEIR EMPLOYEES? NOW FOR A MOTHER OF TWO TO DIVIDE HER TIME BETWEEN RAISING TWO KIDS, ASSISTING WITH TEACHING, TEACHING, COACHING AND ASSISTING IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS ARE THESE PEOPLE CRAZY? HISD AND HFT HAD BETTER GIVE HER ALL OF THE BACK OVER PAYMENTS FROM FOUR YEARS OF DEDICATION AND LOYALTY BECAUSE I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT NOT ALL TEACHERS WILL GIVE THAT MUCH OF THEIR TIME SO YES, LOYALTY IS A 2-WAY STREET!! HFT AND HISD WANT TO SAY THAT Ms. BASS DIDN'T LOOK OVER HER CHECK STUBS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S GOOD TO DO SO SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO LOOK OVER IT TO ENSURE THAT SHE WASN'T BEING CHEATED BUT NOW I URGE HER TO GET AN ATTORNEY, SHOW EVERYTHING (ALL PAY STUBS, INCOME TAX FORMS) AND AND DO NOT SETTLE FOR ANYTHING BUT WHAT'S OWED TO YOU. IT'S THEIR MISSION TO NOT GIVE HER ANYTHING MUCH LESS SETTLE FOR PAYING BUS FARE. Ms. BASS. STAY ON THEIR @$$3$ FULL SPEED AND ENSURE THAT THEY GIVE YOU ALL THAT'S OWED.

I would stop arguing with them.. Just get you a LAWYER....BET THEY THINK TWICE ABOUT LAWYER FEES, PAIN AND SUFFERING...ETC!

This all seems pretty cut and dry to me. She overpaid. They acknowledge it. Give her a refund! Isn't the whole point of a Union to defend its members against "the man". It's so sad that they have become "the man". Here it is, a single mother of two kids on a low-income salary. You can't tell me that they can't afford to reimburse her $1,000. Ridiculous. Especially given all that she has done to contribute to the school system and her community. This is very sad and disappointing. No wonder people don't want to be teachers!

Besides I've only been fighting this issue for a 'couple' years!

Man, If this is the way a union treats you; who would ever want to join one especially for HISD. Yes, she didn't catch this until years later. But she was only acting under the direction of them. They told her to fill out the additional papers. They had her enrolled as a teacher and not a teachers assistant. Their actions lead to this result. They directed her wrongly and now she has to pay for not catching their mistake. Would it have been to hard for them to verify what actions to take before just handing her another form to fill out. They should pay her back the money she was over charged for. I believe even the uncle SAM would pay your money back if they found out they were over charging people.

No one wants to do their job. Payroll's responsibility is to pay people and not over charge them for something they worked so hard for. I bet if they were over paying her they would demand that they get their money back even to the point of garnishing her wages. They should learn from this mistake and correct the wrong and just pay her the full amount she is owed.

Wishing you the best of luck,Hard Working Women

This is an outrage!

Yeah her son is paid 1/2 million dollars of our tax paying money per year and he's paid this salary weather he wins or looses the case!! HFT is family ran and 'FALLON' has used her powers for years to manipulate people scared to beleive in what she feels and thinks and if ya don't believe in what she says then she simply fires you! That's what happens whenn no one is overseeing the 'WRONG' doers!!

This is the end resolts of one woman--Gayle Fallon monopolizing one organization. Rules and policies need to be changed...maybe even the president of HFT Ms. Fallon!!

As I read this article, I kept expecting to hear how some kind soul(s) in HFT had pitched in to help reimburse this woman for the dues she overpaid. At most, the difference between what the union offered her ($512) and what she feels she is owed ($1,000) is less than $500, and that's going back to 2004. My God, HFT, the woman makes less than 20 grand a year and you want to play hard ball with her! Shame on you.

You know, HFT has taken it on the chin these last few years, especially with their inability to slow down Dr. Grier's reforms. You would have thought they could have earned a little good will by treating this employee a little better. Guess not.