Hayward: Day 5 (One week in)

The more I see what's going on in Hayward, and how HEA is handling things there (with the assistance of CTA) the more impressed I am. This is a really well-run strike (if there is such an animal).

Why do I say this? Here are my reasons (in no particular order)

1. They're getting media coverage that doesn't portray them as "those striking teachers".
2. It appears the parents support 'em.
3. They had 98% participation on the first day of the strike.
4. They've got a well-run website complete with updates and press releases and the like. Go here to the main page.
5. They're putting their strike newsletters known as "HEA on the Line" up in PDF format, go here to see them.
6. Their extensive use of Youtube is quite literally groundbreaking; to my knowledge, I haven't seen it used before when it comes to a US teachers strike; the grass-roots street cred it brings to the whole effort is great.
7. They made this poster for scabs. (opens to a PDF file)

They're supposed to be meeting today with a mediator and apparently the mayor will be sending a letter to the Superintendent. I hope they get this contract settled soon, to their liking.

A question for the Hayward Superintendent....

This question goes out from the rank and file to the Hayward Superintendent, Dr. Vigil. It's short (like 45 seconds) and I'm really digging this YouTube thing; so far I've only really seen YT used for teacher union campaigns and speeches-- I think Hayward is breaking new ground.

Green Dots in LA.

I've been reading up a bit about the craziness in LA regarding Green Dot charters.

Reader's Digest Version: GD wanted to open 8 new schools in the Watts area, had to ask permission of the school board to do so. Green Dot's academics are sound, as are their finances; these are the two benchmarks the school must meet in order to be granted permission to open. Heck, the schools are even unionized-- not with UTLA, but through CTA. (I'd love to see a copy of the contract.) LAUSD SB voted no, 3 to 3 (one member abstained 'cause he worked for Green Dot). The criticism that's being leveled at the three nay-sayers is that they are supported by UTLA, and are even in their pockets-- which is why they voted no. The three no-voters were blasted by the LAT in an editorial a few days ago.

My take?

Well, it's easy to comment on a situation that isn't happening in your school district. It's easy to say, well the board should have done this, and the union shouldn't do this, nor should these people do this. So I enter into this post understanding that I could say the way things should be; but then I'd say something completely different if it came to my neck of the woods. It's not, so here goes.

The main reason that unions exist is for job protection of the members; this includes maintaining and enhancing the current salary, benefits and working conditions of the rank and file. Union leadership that failed to protect the jobs of its current members would quickly look around to see few, if any supporters and lose the next election, if a recall election were unable to be called due to the bylaws.

Very few substantive, lasting things in the edu-world these days are done without the involvement of someones legislature; therefore unions have transformed from organizing animals in the 60's and 70's to become political animals; therefore, unions understand the importance of organizing politically, supporting and funding candidates that agree with and support the issues that are important to them.

Having said that, let me analyze the Green Dot "event" that happened in LAUSD.

Quite simply put, whether you like it or not, UTLA (and its political support system) worked as it should have.

Charter schools = loss of money for public ed.

Loss of money for public ed= loss of jobs of teachers.

Loss of jobs of teachers= bad thing for the union (action must be taken).

Action needing to be taken / Sympathetic LAUSD School Board Members = Zero Green Dot Schools

When individual citizens elect or unseat SB members based on their interests, it's called democracy. When unions (democratic organizations, mind you) help elect or unseat SB members based on the issues that are important to them and they actually represent you, it's called bribery, "buying a school board member" or "being in the union's pocket".

Hayward on Strike!

Union Bouquet #9: Post Carnival Edition

For the latest on teacher union strikes or negotiations, click here.

Welcome to the 9th edition of the Union Bouquet! I hosted the last edition of the Carnival of Education and whew...that was some work. Fun, rewarding, love the traffic it's bringing to the ol' site, but it's quite a bit of work.

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you haven't heard about the teacher contract language searchable database.

Edwize brings us the news of a Chinese teacher strike....next, pigs will fly to a recently frozen over hell. Perhaps they saw this post of mine.

Okay, so perhaps she's not necessarily a teacher, but she's still one of us. Dr. Homeslice has a crush on Ms. Solidarity Forever.

Edutheria presents for all the letter that Darren got from a CTA bigwig about California Empowerment Network. The best quote from Edutheria? "When will the public at last turn on these vile, thuggish, cynical, reactionary unions?"

Ednotes reports on the job action that has begun in LAUSD with the UTLA boycotting after school meetings and unpaid after school events. On a side note, I already got that up in the last UB, but they beat me on the possible one day Boston Teacher's Union Stike. The reason is apparently to express displeasure with the way negotiations are going. Since they've been working without a contract since August 31st, a one day strike won't violate any performance pledge in their current contract. It's interesting to note that they threatened a one-day strike in 2003 and got a contract then as well. Here is a Boston Globe article about it.

Middletown Teachers Association in Middletown, NY has a nifty website where they have a "Grievance Corner".

Texas Ed has a post that has something to do with getting rid of ineffective teachers, but I can't figure it out for the life of me.

This is probably the most well-written news article about a grievance hearing. It's also the most uh, sensational.

In West Virginia, teachers might go on strike, so the local news station resurected footage of the 1990 strike and streamed it on their site.

Mr. Chalk, a limey, explains why he hasn't joined a union in 14 years of teaching.

The Governor of Maine is all for the consolidation of 290 school districts into 26 regional districts. The Maine Education Association is all over it.

Limonada recalls going on strike....against her father, the principal of her school....when she was in third grade. Priceless.

The Detroit News slams DFT members for being elitist and sending more of their own children to private schools than the public.

Joyeous explains the Boston Teachers' Union demonstration. She should know, she took part in it.

The Metro Nashville Education Association (I did a long post about them and their briefly appointed homeschooling school board windbag-thorn-in-their-side, Kay Brooks here) is being sued by a teacher who wants to get out of the union, but can't do it until the two month window according to the bylaws open up.

Ascribe ends up on the wrong end of a grievance. A 2 year teacher, he applied for and was hired for a lucrative school newspaper gig over a 30 year veteran. The teacher thought she should have been hired because she was better qualified and grieved it. The union is supporting the grievance.

Commentary: I realize I only have one part of the story, but as long as the hiring process was followed, this 30 year vet has nothing to complain about. Yes, it sucks when you don't get hired and you think you're the best candidate for the job. I've been there before, I think we all have. Bringing the union into this is the wrong thing to do just because you think you're the best qualified one, and it's even worse that this person's local is picking up their case. Just because you're the one with the most seniority doesn't mean you're the most qualified.

By the way, don't forget to take a look at my new and exclusive feature.

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