Will the WTU illegally strike? Not return on 2/1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the union is preparing to strike.

Source??

Here are the facts, decide for yourself what you think will happen.

1. PERB rules in favor of the WTU, end of October, from the original complaint for violation of the contract, filed in July. DCPS forced to negotiate with WTU (this was a major F-up of DCPS BTW, they had July-Oct to work with union.)
2. DCPS has to abandon early November opening because of PERB ruling, WTU strikes/sick-outs and bizarrely considers it a win.
3. Nov - Now; DCPS kicks all the planning to each school, abandons the staffing survey (cause they had to) which gave teachers a lot of flexibility; WTU plans to sign MOA and then backtracks multiples times until it's filed; asks Elissa Silverman to sponsor a bill (which she does) that is ultimately withdrawn; WTU heavily lobbies city council (now the whole cause the Ed committee has been disbanded); WTU consistently messages its members unsafe, unsafe, unsafe, unsafe so much that who would expect anything other than certain death if returning to school.
4. 1/19 WTU files emergency complaint with PERB to calling for immediate arbitration for what sounds like violations of MOA; arbitration will probably happen next week.

If arbitration rules in favor of DCPS and there is no legal injunction forcing DCPS to change course, what do you think will happen? If you don't believe the back-up plan is a strike, I can't help you.

Hi. I’m a teacher. You can choose to believe or not believe me but there is not going to be a strike. Less than 20% of members are in favor of collective action. There are trolls in here trying to rile people up. There will not be a strike.

Less than 20% being in favor is because only some teachers are being forced to return. Others received accommodations or just lucked out with an understanding principal.

The problem is that unless all members show up to the union meeting to vote, a strike might go through. The members most likely to show up at union meetings are those most invested in schools remaining closed. So I would take that 20% in favor with a grain of salt- that's 20% of all members.

This is exactly right, and the number for a voting quorum is ridiculously low. Those 20% can vote to take action on behalf of the entire union membership.

That doesn’t mean the d tire membership will comply. Same with the sickout. Only 45% of members did it. And people would be far less willing to participate in a strike.

[Anonymous]

When you have some teachers that want to go back in-person, a large percentage who received ADA accommodations, and a significant portion that through good fortune received virtual assignments you are already losing power, and DCPS orchestrated it this way on purpose. Because these teachers no longer care about WTU’s concerns and are no longer invested. They are either “safe” or “happy”, and quite frankly do not care about their colleagues who aren’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the union is preparing to strike.

Source??

Here are the facts, decide for yourself what you think will happen.

1. PERB rules in favor of the WTU, end of October, from the original complaint for violation of the contract, filed in July. DCPS forced to negotiate with WTU (this was a major F-up of DCPS BTW, they had July-Oct to work with union.)
2. DCPS has to abandon early November opening because of PERB ruling, WTU strikes/sick-outs and bizarrely considers it a win.
3. Nov - Now; DCPS kicks all the planning to each school, abandons the staffing survey (cause they had to) which gave teachers a lot of flexibility; WTU plans to sign MOA and then backtracks multiples times until it's filed; asks Elissa Silverman to sponsor a bill (which she does) that is ultimately withdrawn; WTU heavily lobbies city council (now the whole cause the Ed committee has been disbanded); WTU consistently messages its members unsafe, unsafe, unsafe, unsafe so much that who would expect anything other than certain death if returning to school.
4. 1/19 WTU files emergency complaint with PERB to calling for immediate arbitration for what sounds like violations of MOA; arbitration will probably happen next week.

If arbitration rules in favor of DCPS and there is no legal injunction forcing DCPS to change course, what do you think will happen? If you don't believe the back-up plan is a strike, I can't help you.

Hi. I’m a teacher. You can choose to believe or not believe me but there is not going to be a strike. Less than 20% of members are in favor of collective action. There are trolls in here trying to rile people up. There will not be a strike.

Less than 20% being in favor is because only some teachers are being forced to return. Others received accommodations or just lucked out with an understanding principal.

The problem is that unless all members show up to the union meeting to vote, a strike might go through. The members most likely to show up at union meetings are those most invested in schools remaining closed. So I would take that 20% in favor with a grain of salt- that's 20% of all members.

This is exactly right, and the number for a voting quorum is ridiculously low. Those 20% can vote to take action on behalf of the entire union membership.

That doesn’t mean the d tire membership will comply. Same with the sickout. Only 45% of members did it. And people would be far less willing to participate in a strike.

Term 2 only impacted elementary school teachers, so of course middle/high teachers weren’t as willing to participate. The percentage of elementary teachers who participated was far higher, in the 80% range

[Anonymous]

This union feels really chaotic.

[Anonymous]

It seems like a lot of parents on this board actually WANT WTU to strike so they have even more of a reason to demonize them. Very bizarre.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Chancellor said at the DC Council Meeting on Thursday that only 7% of teachers volunteered to return, so 93% are being forced in-person. While some teachers, like the poster above are ready and even eager to return, the vast majority are not. This upcoming week will be interesting for sure.

I watched the meeting and heard the Chancellor flat out lie or be deliberately ambiguous when answering several questions. I do believe DCPS has already violated aspects of the MOA. PERB ruling in WTU's favor is a possibility.

So if 7% volunteered and 93% are being forced to return, then why aren't more kids allowed to come back?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Chancellor said at the DC Council Meeting on Thursday that only 7% of teachers volunteered to return, so 93% are being forced in-person. While some teachers, like the poster above are ready and even eager to return, the vast majority are not. This upcoming week will be interesting for sure.

I watched the meeting and heard the Chancellor flat out lie or be deliberately ambiguous when answering several questions. I do believe DCPS has already violated aspects of the MOA. PERB ruling in WTU's favor is a possibility.

So if 7% volunteered and 93% are being forced to return, then why aren't more kids allowed to come back?

I think she meant that 93% that are returning are doing so under duress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Chancellor said at the DC Council Meeting on Thursday that only 7% of teachers volunteered to return, so 93% are being forced in-person. While some teachers, like the poster above are ready and even eager to return, the vast majority are not. This upcoming week will be interesting for sure.

I watched the meeting and heard the Chancellor flat out lie or be deliberately ambiguous when answering several questions. I do believe DCPS has already violated aspects of the MOA. PERB ruling in WTU's favor is a possibility.

So if 7% volunteered and 93% are being forced to return, then why aren't more kids allowed to come back?

Only 40% of WTU staff are available for in person learning. Everyone else qualifies for ADA/FMLA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems like a lot of parents on this board actually WANT WTU to strike so they have even more of a reason to demonize them. Very bizarre.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Chancellor said at the DC Council Meeting on Thursday that only 7% of teachers volunteered to return, so 93% are being forced in-person. While some teachers, like the poster above are ready and even eager to return, the vast majority are not. This upcoming week will be interesting for sure.

I watched the meeting and heard the Chancellor flat out lie or be deliberately ambiguous when answering several questions. I do believe DCPS has already violated aspects of the MOA. PERB ruling in WTU's favor is a possibility.

So if 7% volunteered and 93% are being forced to return, then why aren't more kids allowed to come back?

Probably because we're in a pandemic and only a fraction of students are allowed to be in a room together at a time.

Also I'm not PP but I think they are referring to the total number of teachers returning. So of those teachers, only 7% volunteered.
There is a huge chunk of the DCPS work force that received ADA and family leave accommodations. At my school alone I know of 6 teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Chancellor said at the DC Council Meeting on Thursday that only 7% of teachers volunteered to return, so 93% are being forced in-person. While some teachers, like the poster above are ready and even eager to return, the vast majority are not. This upcoming week will be interesting for sure.

I watched the meeting and heard the Chancellor flat out lie or be deliberately ambiguous when answering several questions. I do believe DCPS has already violated aspects of the MOA. PERB ruling in WTU's favor is a possibility.

So if 7% volunteered and 93% are being forced to return, then why aren't more kids allowed to come back?

Only 40% of WTU staff are available for in person learning. Everyone else qualifies for ADA/FMLA.

Wow, that is shocking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Chancellor said at the DC Council Meeting on Thursday that only 7% of teachers volunteered to return, so 93% are being forced in-person. While some teachers, like the poster above are ready and even eager to return, the vast majority are not. This upcoming week will be interesting for sure.

I watched the meeting and heard the Chancellor flat out lie or be deliberately ambiguous when answering several questions. I do believe DCPS has already violated aspects of the MOA. PERB ruling in WTU's favor is a possibility.

So if 7% volunteered and 93% are being forced to return, then why aren't more kids allowed to come back?

I think she meant that 93% that are returning are doing so under duress.

I know several colleagues who, when given the option, requested a virtual assignment but have no problem going back. Duress is a strong word. The 7% are the people who are stepping up to plate, there is some % that is ok with going back but would rather stay home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Chancellor said at the DC Council Meeting on Thursday that only 7% of teachers volunteered to return, so 93% are being forced in-person. While some teachers, like the poster above are ready and even eager to return, the vast majority are not. This upcoming week will be interesting for sure.

I watched the meeting and heard the Chancellor flat out lie or be deliberately ambiguous when answering several questions. I do believe DCPS has already violated aspects of the MOA. PERB ruling in WTU's favor is a possibility.

So if 7% volunteered and 93% are being forced to return, then why aren't more kids allowed to come back?

Only 40% of WTU staff are available for in person learning. Everyone else qualifies for ADA/FMLA.

Wow, that is shocking.

What’s shocking about it? Most teachers I know are women. They’re either older (health problems) or have children (who are currently doing distance learning) or a combination of the two. Just because parents want their teachers back doesn’t mean they have the actual ability to return.

[Anonymous]

DCPS teacher here. I took part in the original sick out because I didn't believe DCPS had a good plan or had made the buildings safe enough. I requested to stay virtual, but I always said I would go back in person if I had to.I just didn't want to volunteer for it if I had a chance to keep myself and my family safer. I have been called to go back in person and I have no problem doing so, especially now that in person teachers have been prioritized for the vaccine. I have heard about the safety precautions at my school in detail and I think it will be as safe as they can make it. The students who are coming back really need in person learning. If WTU calls for a sick out on Feb 1, I will not be participating. I think they should be focusing more on the actual logistics of school opening now and getting some protections in place around that, like with issues of teachers covering classes for other teachers, lunch and recess duty, planning time for teachers who are teaching both in person and virtual, etc. It's quite frustrating. We are going back. They are beating a dead horse and they need to focus on protecting teachers who must be there in person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS teacher here. I took part in the original sick out because I didn't believe DCPS had a good plan or had made the buildings safe enough. I requested to stay virtual, but I always said I would go back in person if I had to.I just didn't want to volunteer for it if I had a chance to keep myself and my family safer. I have been called to go back in person and I have no problem doing so, especially now that in person teachers have been prioritized for the vaccine. I have heard about the safety precautions at my school in detail and I think it will be as safe as they can make it. The students who are coming back really need in person learning. If WTU calls for a sick out on Feb 1, I will not be participating. I think they should be focusing more on the actual logistics of school opening now and getting some protections in place around that, like with issues of teachers covering classes for other teachers, lunch and recess duty, planning time for teachers who are teaching both in person and virtual, etc. It's quite frustrating. We are going back. They are beating a dead horse and they need to focus on protecting teachers who must be there in person.

I wish teachers like you would understand that not all of us are in your situation. Just because you have it good with a "Safe" building doesn't mean we all do. Being in a Union means fighting so that every member is protected.