WTU meeting updates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Watkins and Coolidge not allowed to reopen

Okay but the union is saying all teachers remain remote? Still not sure what to expect tomorrow

Tomorrow will likely be a snow day, so all teachers will teach virtually. The union will claim the virtual-only action as a victory, even though it’s unrelated.

[Anonymous]

The kids continue to be the losers. Political pawns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:aaand WTU is now tweeting that it is still unsafe to return *even after vaccination.* Ok Mayor Bowser - it is now go time to crush the union.

They haven’t tweeted that.

yes, they did. they just retweeted something saying exactly that.

They just retweeted Perry Stein’s article about racial disparities in the reopening plans. I know you need to feel angry and blame someone for the fact that you can’t handle your kids being at home, but it’s stupid to lie about things that we can all easily see are false.

this is what they retweeted:

https://twitter.com/ChristopherPaix/status/1355588198945222663?s=20

I take covid very seriously but "we don't want to die"?!?! Stop it. This hyperbolic agenda is crazy, and I don't believe for one second the majority of teachers actually fear for their lives. Unless you've been living in a bunker since March of 2020, time to go to work like the hundreds of thousands of essential workers who have been doing so with precautions in place for MONTHS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The union lost.

Haha haha haha haha haha haha haha haha haha haha haha

Go to work, losers.

?? 60% of teachers are still teaching virtually....who is the 'loser?'

All the teachers who have been asked to return in person and are subject to a union vote telling them to violate their employment assignment and stay home. They are the losers because they are going to be seen as scabs if they go to work and yet they could lose their jobs if they don't.

They lost.

For all of the teachers who do show up to work in person this week, thank you. You have no idea how much parents appreciate you (certainly wouldn't know it from this board!). For the teachers who are not going back, don't accuse those that go back of being "scabs," don't judge. Those teachers shouldn't risk their jobs for your agenda. Focus that energy on how to make your own school as safe as possible for you and the students for when you are all inevitably back in the classroom. It can and will be done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:aaand WTU is now tweeting that it is still unsafe to return *even after vaccination.* Ok Mayor Bowser - it is now go time to crush the union.

They haven’t tweeted that.

yes, they did. they just retweeted something saying exactly that.

They just retweeted Perry Stein’s article about racial disparities in the reopening plans. I know you need to feel angry and blame someone for the fact that you can’t handle your kids being at home, but it’s stupid to lie about things that we can all easily see are false.

this is what they retweeted:

https://twitter.com/ChristopherPaix/status/1355588198945222663?s=20

I take covid very seriously but "we don't want to die"?!?! Stop it. This hyperbolic agenda is crazy, and I don't believe for one second the majority of teachers actually fear for their lives. Unless you've been living in a bunker since March of 2020, time to go to work like the hundreds of thousands of essential workers who have been doing so with precautions in place for MONTHS.

+1

I am a teacher and no, most do not think going in to work will cost their lives. I also know very few teachers who haven’t travelled at least once, send their kids to daycare, etc. I’m not saying they aren’t being cautious but they aren’t on lockdown by any means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Watkins and Coolidge not allowed to reopen

Coolidge? I’m surprised. They just renovated it! It’s should 100% be up to code in terms of air filtration, HVAC, windows opening, etc. I wish we could find out where the issue is (or if it really was just too brief of a walkthrough) because the council should investigate the construction company who did the renovation then.

Watkins and CHML are both newly renovated (CHML is literally brand new). Their admin clearly just didn’t take the rules seriously enough. They will pass on their re-walk-throughs if all schools in Ward 8 did. No question.

[Anonymous]

CHML is housed at Meyer this year while the Logan building is renovated. In any case I hear that only 2 teachers there are going back for in person (coworker has a kid there).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From a WTU e-mail:

At tonight’s Member Assembly, members voted to approve the following motion:

Due to the continued severe risk of COVID-19 transmission, and out of great concern for the health and safety of students, families and educators, it is the decision of the Washington Teachers' Union to continue with all-remote instruction starting February 1. All-remote instruction will continue until the conditions of the Memorandum of Agreement are fully met, and all staff who wish to be vaccinated have been allowed to receive BOTH vaccine doses according to CDC and FDA guidance, and the recommended time necessary for immunity to take effect has elapsed. This is not a refusal to work; this is a firm determination to work safely in order to control the spread of this deadly virus. Be it understood that any attempt at retaliation against WTU members for continuing to teach remotely will be met with swift collective action.



The WTU is extremely concerned that reopening our schools to in-person learning on Monday is not safe. While the CDC has stated that schools can be reopened safely, the Mayor and DCPS leaders have failed to take the steps needed to ensure our safety. Community spread remains at unsafe levels and a new, highly contagious strain of the virus has emerged and is reported to be in our community. During this week’s Arbitration Hearing, we presented evidence that many buildings remain unsafe – community reopen teams identified significant violations of the MOA including the failure by DCPS to provide school by school verification that air circulation standards are being met. We await the arbitrator’s ruling on these violations. However, we believe the time to act is now.

Is this for real? Anyone have more details on WTUs plan?

[Anonymous]

You mean the plan where Liz David told the teachers to go to work?

Look how hyped up everyone on here got scout the union...for no reason. You let these trolls bait you into believing something that was never gonna happen.

[Anonymous]

New WTU email from tonight:

Over the past two days, the WTU membership has had a spirited, democratic debate. As we make a determination on our path forward, the leadership of the WTU wants to ensure that all members of our bargaining unit are heard and are aware of the consequences of moving forward.

The following poll is not an official vote; it is a poll to find out people's opinions and willingness to engage in collective actions. If it is determined that we need to move forward with a Collective Action, there will be a protocol to follow, including a secret ballot authorization vote.

We have an obligation to hear what actions you believe we should take. And any action we must do in solidarity. But we also have the obligation to ensure everyone knows the law we operate under. Unlike in Chicago or LA whose state law allows strikes, If we take action to remain remote or otherwise vote to initiate a work stoppage and we cannot secure an appropriate settlement with DC Public Schools the action may result in penalties against you, up to and including termination of your employment, and to the Union, up to and including fines and decertification. Of course we would fight it, and of course we are stronger together, but the leadership has the moral obligation to tell you the law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New WTU email from tonight:

Over the past two days, the WTU membership has had a spirited, democratic debate. As we make a determination on our path forward, the leadership of the WTU wants to ensure that all members of our bargaining unit are heard and are aware of the consequences of moving forward.

The following poll is not an official vote; it is a poll to find out people's opinions and willingness to engage in collective actions. If it is determined that we need to move forward with a Collective Action, there will be a protocol to follow, including a secret ballot authorization vote.

We have an obligation to hear what actions you believe we should take. And any action we must do in solidarity. But we also have the obligation to ensure everyone knows the law we operate under. Unlike in Chicago or LA whose state law allows strikes, If we take action to remain remote or otherwise vote to initiate a work stoppage and we cannot secure an appropriate settlement with DC Public Schools the action may result in penalties against you, up to and including termination of your employment, and to the Union, up to and including fines and decertification. Of course we would fight it, and of course we are stronger together, but the leadership has the moral obligation to tell you the law.

thank god DC does not allow them to strike.

[Anonymous]

It’s a fascinating collective action problem. Will the majority vote to strike/slow down/whatever you want to call it, when only those slated to go in person will be putting their jobs on the line? This is not well played, starting with WTU signing an MOA it apparently doesn’t like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a fascinating collective action problem. Will the majority vote to strike/slow down/whatever you want to call it, when only those slated to go in person will be putting their jobs on the line? This is not well played, starting with WTU signing an MOA it apparently doesn’t like.

It is fascinating indeed! There have been so so many missteps along the way. Only now is the entire union membership being polled to determine appetite for collective action. I finally feel like my voice will be heard after being ignored for months. And this is only because we have been backed into a corner. Had the pulse been taken at intervals along the way we would have been much better organized. The division right now is as bad as what we are seeing in national politics. I think the results of the poll will be interesting and I doubt the majority will agree to collective action especially if everyone understands it could have severe personal impacts and could destroy the union.

[Anonymous]

I have said on this and every single other thread for the past 4 months that the union was NOT going to strike. I’ve been called names, told I was dumb and didn’t understand how I junk a worker, told teachers are disgusting people etc. The only people on this board who have been ruling people up like this have a alternative agenda.

I’m so concerned that people in this educated of an area can fall for fake news and trolls just like lower educated areas. It really is concerning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New WTU email from tonight:

Over the past two days, the WTU membership has had a spirited, democratic debate. As we make a determination on our path forward, the leadership of the WTU wants to ensure that all members of our bargaining unit are heard and are aware of the consequences of moving forward.

The following poll is not an official vote; it is a poll to find out people's opinions and willingness to engage in collective actions. If it is determined that we need to move forward with a Collective Action, there will be a protocol to follow, including a secret ballot authorization vote.

We have an obligation to hear what actions you believe we should take. And any action we must do in solidarity. But we also have the obligation to ensure everyone knows the law we operate under. Unlike in Chicago or LA whose state law allows strikes, If we take action to remain remote or otherwise vote to initiate a work stoppage and we cannot secure an appropriate settlement with DC Public Schools the action may result in penalties against you, up to and including termination of your employment, and to the Union, up to and including fines and decertification. Of course we would fight it, and of course we are stronger together, but the leadership has the moral obligation to tell you the law.

thank god DC does not allow them to strike.

FWIW I don’t believe that WTU is going to strike, but nearly every union has a no strike clause in their contract. It’s not going to stop them from striking if they want to. Usually unions only strike during contract negotiations.