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Thursday, July 30, 2020

National Teacher Union supports strikes over reopening plans

One of the nation’s largest teachers unions is authorizing its members to strike if their schools plan to reopen without proper safety measures

One of the nation’s largest teachers unions is authorizing its members to strike if their schools plan to reopen without proper safety measures in the middle of the global pandemic.

The American Federation of Teachers, which represents 1.7 million school employees, issued a resolution on Tuesday saying it will support any local chapter that decides to strike over reopening plans.

In providing its blessing, the union is also offering local chapters access to its financial and legal resources as they navigate a return to the classroom. Union officials said they will provide legal support, communications support and staffing to local chapters that vote to strike.

Although the measure says strikes should be considered only as a “last resort,” it lists conditions the organization wants met for schools to reopen. It says buildings should reopen only in areas with lower virus rates, and only if schools require masks, update ventilation systems and make changes to space students apart.

In announcing the measure, the union’s president blasted President Donald Trump for pressuring schools to reopen even as the virus continues to surge. Randi Weingarten called Trump’s response “chaotic and catastrophic,” saying it has left teachers afraid.

“We will fight on all fronts for the safety of our students and their educators,” Weingarten said. “But if authorities don’t protect the safety and health of those we represent and those we serve, as our executive council voted last week, nothing is off the table.”

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18 comments:

Anonymous said...

As they should.

Anonymous said...

Fine, but don’t get paid.

Anonymous said...

Teachers should vote out the Union

Anonymous said...

DUH. If you told them they can have off without pay. Watch how fast the school open.

Anonymous said...

They are just cutting their own throat.

Anonymous said...

All bullshit. Just like OC canceling events and not recalling laid off Town employees to support these events. All these people want to do is get paid for doing nothing. OC's transportation simply gives up on the basis that they can't do it. Delaware (DART) keeps plugging on to maintain their service commitments. A LOT of OC seasonal employees have moved on or will soon do so.

My question is whether the event organizers that have brought these revenue producing events to OC will be compensated. Will the next "big event" be the mayor's Christmas blessing? Probably....

Anonymous said...

Like the Air Traffic Controllers under President Reagan...fire them all!

Anonymous said...

Since unions have their roots in communism, they need to be stamped out too.

Anonymous said...

Then reimburse all tax dollars collected for education back to the tax payer, since the education system will be shut down. Make the Teachers get their unemployment checks from the UNIONS.

Anonymous said...

Yes. Let's fire them all and return money along with cancelling police too. Let's get it done. And see how that all works out.

Anonymous said...

Wasn’t their a song that had the lyrics, “ get a haircut and get a real job”?

Anonymous said...

Dittos 5:27
The problem with education is all the Communist loving radical leftists went into academia during the 70’s and 80’s and taught the teachers we have now.
Perverts. Nearly all are godless, lacking decency and moral value. Fools give them their children every day.
It’s probably better that kids NOT go to the indoctrination centers.

Anonymous said...

DEFUND PUBLIC EDUCATION..return my taxes...Fund the police?

Anonymous said...

The American Federation of Teachers have endorsed Sleepy Joe Biden. GTS and see for yourselves, this is about November 3rd and making Trump look bad and nothing more.

Anonymous said...

We the taxpayers deserve a tax refund. Put the teachers on unemployment.

Anonymous said...

Suddenly teachers have decided that they’re not “essential”.

Anonymous said...

Dear Teachers: Go back to work, like EVERYONE else! Yes, it's scary. We get it! We (the rest of working America) have been scared this entire time too. But, put your big girl and big boy panties on like the rest of us and DO YOUR JOB. You have spent YEARS complaining that no one appreciates how hard you work and how highly trained and important teachers are... yet parents are now being told you can be easily replaced with a computer or a worksheet. That we should man up and educate our own kids. That you aren't babysitters and that we shouldn't have had children if we weren't prepared to take care of them. Yes us, the lowly, uneducated, untrained parents who - up until March - were supposed to worship the ground you walked on for making up for our failures in society. Without stepping foot in a classroom since March, you are still complaining about how hard you are working to plan virtual classes - which, we all have seen, are mass-produced by the county. If I see one more post on Facebook about the poor teachers working while "unpaid" during their summer vacation, or staying up all night worrying and planning for the coming school year I'm going to scream. We all know that's not true, so just stop. I'm sorry you had to pack up your classroom, I'm sorry you can't have your bookshelf or your Pinterest-worthy decorations. Thanks for the super sad social media posts about how you have suffered in that regard. But, I'm here to say adapt and overcome. You can't stay at home "hiding" from the virus and still expect to be viewed as essential. Sorry peanut, you just can't. Every school has FULL-TIME maintenance staff who can step up and sanitize high touch surfaces. It's not rocket science. There's a 15-year-old kid at Aldi who is in charge of the same job. You are failing to see that so easily shifting to a mass application of virtual learning will start a ripple that cannot be reversed. When we do return to "normal," class sizes will get bigger. It's simple, we'll just add a few more "log-ons" to your roster. Next, you can teach 25 kids in person, and another 25 online... simultaneously. Remember, YOU said this was the best way to protect everyone right? And kids can still get quality education, right? Better yet, we'll just beam one teacher to every 3rd grade in America. Hell, we'll even program the perfect, virtual teacher and replace her or him with artificial intelligence altogether. I know, I know... you're worried about this terrifying virus and bringing it home to your family. The same family that you are vacationing with at the beach? Taking to amusement parks and camping? The same family you are throwing huge birthday parties for? Having slumber parties? You forget that we see your posts on Facebook. Great pictures, by the way. We see you shopping at Hobby Lobby and heading to OC just to get Thrasher's fries. Every other aspect of your life is lived without fear... So, why are you suddenly scared to go back to work? Truth be told, you should be scared NOT to!! My point? Teachers ARE essential. The parents need you, the students need you, the world needs you. DON'T hide behind fear and sell yourselves short. It's been a great ride getting full pay and benefits, all while staying home and cleaning out your closets or catching up on Netflix. I get it, I really do! I'm totally jealous and would have LOVED to do the same. But that's not the real world... the real world that YOU prepare our children for every day. WE. KNOW. YOU. ARE. ESSENTIAL. And now it's time to show the world that you believe it too. So pack up your book bag, your matching lunch box, your insulated water bottle, and your mask and GET YOUR BUTT TO SCHOOL. Sincerely, the rest of America.

Anonymous said...

Like most dumocrats. When ever it fits their narrative. Wait when this is all over?? When the entire country realized the teachers aren't needed. Watch them cry and bitch then. But it will be too late.