In a rain-soaked and muddy vacant lot across the street from Buffalo United Charter School, librarian and teacher Barb Coogan stood with her colleagues, demanding to be recognized.

"Teachers deserve a voice in the school," Coogan declared to the cheers of her colleagues. "The union is the only way to get it."

For more than a year, the educators at Buffalo United Charter School have been pressing their for-profit employer to recognize their fledgling union. Their cause is simple: to be treated as the professionals they are.

"We are the experts on our students," said Coogan, president of the BUCS Education Association. "We are there after school, before school and doing whatever it takes to help them learn. We hold their hands, tie their shoes, give them lunch money when they come up short — and we listen." 

A union would give her 49 members standing so that management will also listen — listen, that is, to the professionals closest to the children.

But so far, that hasn't happened.

The school's non-elected school board refused to recognize the employees' petition more than a year ago — even though 100 percent of staff signed authorization cards. Then the for-profit, Michigan based company that runs BUCS — National Heritage Academies — hired a law firm to oppose their right to unionize as public employees.

The K-8 charter school, which opened in 2003, enrolls about 600 students.

Incredibly, although BUCS receives millions annually in public funds, is considered a public school and is governed by state charter law that says staff are public employees — the management company claims otherwise and is waging a costly legal battle in opposition. In spite of the board's tactics, and with ongoing staff turnover, a second union authorization vote last month showed the union is undaunted.

"We love our school," said one first-year teacher, brought in mid- year to replace a departing colleague. "We love our kids. When we advocate for better conditions, when we speak up about what they need and what we need to do right by them, we should be heard."

As part of a campaign to bring their plight to the public's attention, members rallied recently. Their request to hold a news conference inside the school was rejected by the administration, forcing the union outside in a cold, driving rain.

The frigid wind and unrelenting downpour, however, couldn't dampen the members' spirits. Against the backdrop of a gray western New York sky, teachers stood in heel-high mud — chanting: "What Do We Want? A Union!

When Do We Want It? Now!" — as they gathered around Coogan, who spoke passionately about the organizing effort.

"No one told us to organize a union," Coogan said. "But unions have an excellent track record of letting educators speak up, without fear, to improve their schools."

The union is supported in its efforts by NYSUT.

"The Buffalo United members have spoken out quite clearly that they want a voice on the job," said NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi. "They deserve to be heard." Iannuzzi said issues on the table include salary and benefits, and learning conditions that affect both educators and students — school safety and discipline, student services, curriculum and professional development.

A union, Coogan said, "is the only way to make our voice heard — to do the job we want to do to support and help our students succeed."