Reply to Parents: Would you support a teacher strike if it means there is no DL?

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Reply to "Parents: Would you support a teacher strike if it means there is no DL?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]PP, former union leader here:

So, this is obviously bad. First, there's a clear solidarity problem within the union, where you do have union members saying they don't support what their union is doing, posting internal emails here, etc. That doesn't bode well for collective action, especially a strike which will leave each member legally vulnerable. The WTU membership would have to be VERY serious and VERY committed in order to pull off a strike, but it seems like they're not. This suggests to me that if we're aware of it, management is aware of it. This is why management is pre-emptively invoking the courts--to remind members of their potential legal peril.

Now, we have all seen clear communication from the WTU about a vague threat of a strike. This was a bad move for a couple of reasons. They've tipped their hand and allowed management to prepare ahead of time AND by saying they're calling for a vote, they're indicating that they don't know if the whole membership is on board.

You do not ever want management to realize that you don't have enough people on board to strike meaningfully. This is basically your main union power, and once its gone, your union is toothless.

They went into this completely frivolously. It's appalling strategy. There are basically two outcomes: they demonstrate that they can't/aren't willing to strike, reducing the power of the WTU immensely or they do strike and put themselves in extreme legal peril, which could cause enough damage to destroy the union.

The best thing they could do right now is to stop talking about it and act like they never said anything.
[/quote]

Thank you for this analysis. This situation is very interesting (and also concerning). Do you think the parent surveys changed anything? I saw our Principal do a 180 from supporting WTU's efforts to remain closed to supporting efforts to reopen. It seemed like WTU, Principals, PTA Presidents, and elected officials were going on the assumption that parents didn't want schools to reopen. Then the surveys came out and clearly showed demand to reopen in many schools. There was significant demand to reopen at our school, and the Principal pivoted right after that. Now WTU can't act like these parents in favor of reopening are on their side anymore either.[/quote]

No I think what changed the minds of the principals was the firing of the SWW principal.  It terrified principals who started asking where does this end.  Then they fell into line. [/quote]

PP are you the union person or a different poster?[/quote]

I am a DCPS principal [/quote]

I'm the person who asked the question. Our Principal made it clear that she pro-WTU even after the SWW Principal was fired and indicated that she believed the parent community supported WTU efforts to keep schools closed too. She didn't pivot until after the parent survey results were released, which is what made me believe this might be the reason.

Why would you support WTU's efforts to keep schools closed? This position seems to be in direct conflict with being an educator.[/quote]

I am not your principal so I cannot speak for them.  That would be something to ask them in a meeting

To the other poster, my staff is happy but also overwhelmed with all of the DCPS mandates and expectations of teaching inperson and virtual.  A lot of parents want everything perfect working day 1 and that is just not reasonable.  We are taking it slowly and trying to make sure everyone feels part of the classroom community while also maintaining safety.  [/quote]

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