WTU meeting updates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents on this board are just itching for a reason to demonize the union. Relax! Your kids will be back in school this week.

So the email is fake? I’m not trying to demonize the union, I’m trying to figure out what’s going to happen for my 6 y/o (and also my work schedule) this week. As garbage as this website can get, it also often scoops the news.

No, the email is not fake. There will probably be some article in the news today and the results of the arbitration are still outstanding. There will probably be more news/emails leaked on this site later today; DCPS might make a statement based on the WTU's email. But you should wait to hear from your principal, at this point he/she is going to be only person making decisions for your school. That email was sent out last night at 11pm, it's early. Might be a long day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, what I find most frustrating is that the WTU STILL hasn’t publicized now DCPS is supposed to have breached the MOA.

https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/wtulocal6action/pages/402/attachments/original/1611326675/January_19_-_Letter.pdf?1611326675&link_id=0&can_id=658ebe88be98114776d6a2f88cdb2593&source=email-tonight-member-town-hall-safely-reopening-schools-2&email_referrer=email_1052229&email_subject=tonight-member-assembly-votes-on-potential-collective-action

Thanks! I’ve been looking for this — though it looks more like a request for information than a list of breaches. I would love to see if our school is in compliance.

I agree that messaging from WTU hasn’t been great. This distracts from the fact that DCPS is not complying with the terms they agreed to in MOA. If the school buildings are really safe, why won’t the Chancellor respond (at a minimum) to items
3, 5, 9, 10 and 14 as outlined above? Why isn’t the Mayor insisting that this information be publicized, which would strengthen her case that going back is safe? The new (but understandable) requests from teachers for vaccination before opening allow DCPS to hide their lack of transparency amid claims of goal post shifting. There is nothing new about the items that DCPS has failed to provide, but they are happy to let WTU take the heat. Parents should demand this information. Arbitration decision will make this clearer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My understanding is that the benefit of WTU is that members are eligible for bonuses. DCPS should institute a blanket bonus policy outside of the union contract so that teachers have no incentive to join.

Do you want to know what happens when teachers aren’t unionized?

I worked for a prominent DC charter, a charter DCUM parents seem to love. I barely got a lunch break, was contracted to work until 5pm each day, had to provide my cell number to parents and be available to them until 7pm, AND got paid nearly 15k less a year than I do in DCPS. This charter (and many others in the city) take advantage of young teachers and work them to the bone. It is not sustainable, and while the teachers have smiles on for parents and students, it’s truly miserable.

I sought out DCPS because I wanted to finally be unionized. I love having protection for the monolith that is DCPS. I’m guaranteed a lunch break, I have contracted hours that are reasonable, I have a fair contract. Salary aside my work/life balance has improved and allows teaching to be my “job” and not my “life”.

WTU makes missteps for sure. But I’d never not be apart of a Union.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents on this board are just itching for a reason to demonize the union. Relax! Your kids will be back in school this week.

So the email is fake? I’m not trying to demonize the union, I’m trying to figure out what’s going to happen for my 6 y/o (and also my work schedule) this week. As garbage as this website can get, it also often scoops the news.

No, the email is not fake. There will probably be some article in the news today and the results of the arbitration are still outstanding. There will probably be more news/emails leaked on this site later today; DCPS might make a statement based on the WTU's email. But you should wait to hear from your principal, at this point he/she is going to be only person making decisions for your school. That email was sent out last night at 11pm, it's early. Might be a long day.

Thank you. Wondering if teachers who go in will be seen as crossing the picket line?

[Anonymous]

Latest DCPS statement does not call for work stoppage/strike. They will continue to teach virtually unless the Mayor says they can’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My understanding is that the benefit of WTU is that members are eligible for bonuses. DCPS should institute a blanket bonus policy outside of the union contract so that teachers have no incentive to join.

Do you want to know what happens when teachers aren’t unionized?

I worked for a prominent DC charter, a charter DCUM parents seem to love. I barely got a lunch break, was contracted to work until 5pm each day, had to provide my cell number to parents and be available to them until 7pm, AND got paid nearly 15k less a year than I do in DCPS. This charter (and many others in the city) take advantage of young teachers and work them to the bone. It is not sustainable, and while the teachers have smiles on for parents and students, it’s truly miserable.

I sought out DCPS because I wanted to finally be unionized. I love having protection for the monolith that is DCPS. I’m guaranteed a lunch break, I have contracted hours that are reasonable, I have a fair contract. Salary aside my work/life balance has improved and allows teaching to be my “job” and not my “life”.

WTU makes missteps for sure. But I’d never not be apart of a Union.

I honestly do not care. Prior to this, I was a big DCPS/union supporter because I believed that better working conditions for my child’s teachers was better for his education, better for DC, and better morally. Now after this utter debacle, I see (and have been told repeatedly here) that unions exclusively look after the interests of the teachers and they are willing to go to great lengths— including unconscionably scaring vulnerable DC families about school safety— to get any advantage for teachers. So I am not a union supporter, and am perfectly fine with ununionized charters and privates and parochials. If Bowser manages to overcome WTU that will be a big win in my book and definitely persuade me to support her re-election. And I also filter all my council votes through the lens of how they have responded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Latest DCPS statement does not call for work stoppage/strike. They will continue to teach virtually unless the Mayor says they can’t.

What statement? Link pls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Latest DCPS statement does not call for work stoppage/strike. They will continue to teach virtually unless the Mayor says they can’t.

you mean the WTU statement? it calls for in-person teachers to refuse to show up to their assigned work stations. that’s a strike.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My understanding is that the benefit of WTU is that members are eligible for bonuses. DCPS should institute a blanket bonus policy outside of the union contract so that teachers have no incentive to join.

Do you want to know what happens when teachers aren’t unionized?

I worked for a prominent DC charter, a charter DCUM parents seem to love. I barely got a lunch break, was contracted to work until 5pm each day, had to provide my cell number to parents and be available to them until 7pm, AND got paid nearly 15k less a year than I do in DCPS. This charter (and many others in the city) take advantage of young teachers and work them to the bone. It is not sustainable, and while the teachers have smiles on for parents and students, it’s truly miserable.

I sought out DCPS because I wanted to finally be unionized. I love having protection for the monolith that is DCPS. I’m guaranteed a lunch break, I have contracted hours that are reasonable, I have a fair contract. Salary aside my work/life balance has improved and allows teaching to be my “job” and not my “life”.

WTU makes missteps for sure. But I’d never not be apart of a Union.

I honestly do not care. Prior to this, I was a big DCPS/union supporter because I believed that better working conditions for my child’s teachers was better for his education, better for DC, and better morally. Now after this utter debacle, I see (and have been told repeatedly here) that unions exclusively look after the interests of the teachers and they are willing to go to great lengths— including unconscionably scaring vulnerable DC families about school safety— to get any advantage for teachers. So I am not a union supporter, and am perfectly fine with ununionized charters and privates and parochials. If Bowser manages to overcome WTU that will be a big win in my book and definitely persuade me to support her re-election. And I also filter all my council votes through the lens of how they have responded.

Um, OK. No one cares if you care or not, but thanks for sharing, I guess...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My understanding is that the benefit of WTU is that members are eligible for bonuses. DCPS should institute a blanket bonus policy outside of the union contract so that teachers have no incentive to join.

Do you want to know what happens when teachers aren’t unionized?

I worked for a prominent DC charter, a charter DCUM parents seem to love. I barely got a lunch break, was contracted to work until 5pm each day, had to provide my cell number to parents and be available to them until 7pm, AND got paid nearly 15k less a year than I do in DCPS. This charter (and many others in the city) take advantage of young teachers and work them to the bone. It is not sustainable, and while the teachers have smiles on for parents and students, it’s truly miserable.

I sought out DCPS because I wanted to finally be unionized. I love having protection for the monolith that is DCPS. I’m guaranteed a lunch break, I have contracted hours that are reasonable, I have a fair contract. Salary aside my work/life balance has improved and allows teaching to be my “job” and not my “life”.

WTU makes missteps for sure. But I’d never not be apart of a Union.

I honestly do not care. Prior to this, I was a big DCPS/union supporter because I believed that better working conditions for my child’s teachers was better for his education, better for DC, and better morally. Now after this utter debacle, I see (and have been told repeatedly here) that unions exclusively look after the interests of the teachers and they are willing to go to great lengths— including unconscionably scaring vulnerable DC families about school safety— to get any advantage for teachers. So I am not a union supporter, and am perfectly fine with ununionized charters and privates and parochials. If Bowser manages to overcome WTU that will be a big win in my book and definitely persuade me to support her re-election. And I also filter all my council votes through the lens of how they have responded.

Um, OK. No one cares if you care or not, but thanks for sharing, I guess...

well you should care, because the worm has turned for school choice, and it’s directly attributable to the actions of teachers unions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Latest DCPS statement does not call for work stoppage/strike. They will continue to teach virtually unless the Mayor says they can’t.

The have already been told to report in person and their tour of duty for virtual teaching has ended. Teachers do not have the authority to change the terms and teaching assignment as will. Again, this is akin to being a no show on the first day of school. The union membership does not get this and is too caught up in assumed power and a lack of understanding of how much power Bowser has under mayoral control.

[Anonymous]

WTU statement from page 1 of this thread, message from 00:24.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Latest DCPS statement does not call for work stoppage/strike. They will continue to teach virtually unless the Mayor says they can’t.

The have already been told to report in person and their tour of duty for virtual teaching has ended. Teachers do not have the authority to change the terms and teaching assignment as will. Again, this is akin to being a no show on the first day of school. The union membership does not get this and is too caught up in assumed power and a lack of understanding of how much power Bowser has under mayoral control.

do they honestly not understand that not showing up is a strike? the way they thought their “sick out” was not a strike? what dummies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My understanding is that the benefit of WTU is that members are eligible for bonuses. DCPS should institute a blanket bonus policy outside of the union contract so that teachers have no incentive to join.

Do you want to know what happens when teachers aren’t unionized?

I worked for a prominent DC charter, a charter DCUM parents seem to love. I barely got a lunch break, was contracted to work until 5pm each day, had to provide my cell number to parents and be available to them until 7pm, AND got paid nearly 15k less a year than I do in DCPS. This charter (and many others in the city) take advantage of young teachers and work them to the bone. It is not sustainable, and while the teachers have smiles on for parents and students, it’s truly miserable.

I sought out DCPS because I wanted to finally be unionized. I love having protection for the monolith that is DCPS. I’m guaranteed a lunch break, I have contracted hours that are reasonable, I have a fair contract. Salary aside my work/life balance has improved and allows teaching to be my “job” and not my “life”.

WTU makes missteps for sure. But I’d never not be apart of a Union.

I honestly do not care. Prior to this, I was a big DCPS/union supporter because I believed that better working conditions for my child’s teachers was better for his education, better for DC, and better morally. Now after this utter debacle, I see (and have been told repeatedly here) that unions exclusively look after the interests of the teachers and they are willing to go to great lengths— including unconscionably scaring vulnerable DC families about school safety— to get any advantage for teachers. So I am not a union supporter, and am perfectly fine with ununionized charters and privates and parochials. If Bowser manages to overcome WTU that will be a big win in my book and definitely persuade me to support her re-election. And I also filter all my council votes through the lens of how they have responded.

Um, OK. No one cares if you care or not, but thanks for sharing, I guess...

well you should care, because the worm has turned for school choice, and it’s directly attributable to the actions of teachers unions.

I’m am so tired of hearing this. Please take your child out of DCPS. Go to a charter where they have to explain ZERO reasons for decisions and are exempt from FOIA. Have fun trying to tell them what to do. Charters are built not to care about parental opinion.

Move on

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Latest DCPS statement does not call for work stoppage/strike. They will continue to teach virtually unless the Mayor says they can’t.

you mean the WTU statement? it calls for in-person teachers to refuse to show up to their assigned work stations. that’s a strike.

If arbitration decision says Dcps needs to provide info as promised in MOA would you still want your child to go back before that happens? Going back safely in person hinges on this.