Out in California, the Fresno Teachers Association has voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike.
A strike you say? In NY that word is never spoken among government employees. We are too afraid of the Taylor Law which makes strikes illegal in the public sector in "progressive" New York.
Never mind that an agency of the United Nations called the International Labor Organization ruled that the Taylor Law is a violation of workers' rights to free association and collective bargaining.
Why don't we tell our new progressive friend Governor Andrew Cuomo about this law that a UN agency says violates international law?
We can keep the Triborough amendment that allows expired contracts to remain in place until there is a new one. However, the two days pay penalty for each day of a strike and jailing union leaders as well as crippling fines on unions for striking need to go.
The Fresno teachers have been working without a contract since 2016.
A look at some of the issues out there shows that salary and health benefits are of course in dispute. They are also fighting over lower class size and student discipline.
From the Fresno Bee piece:
The FTA also wants a greater emphasis on reducing class sizes, asking for class-size ratios to be capped at 24 students per teacher in kindergarten through third grades, 26 students in fourth through sixth grades, 28 students in seventh and eighth grades, and 30 students in high school. So far, however, the district’s proposal calls for reducing class size ratios only in core classes such as English and math at the high school level.
On student discipline from a separate article in the Bee:
A call for stricter, more uniform discipline policies has also been a top priority for FTA, with teachers reporting that the district’s restorative justice efforts have led to unruly – and sometimes violent – classrooms.
You see if we were united and ready to do union battle, we could have a say in our working conditions.
9 comments:
No comments on teacher's striking but lots of comments on losing $100 in union dues or crime. I read the comments here as proof that some of us teachers are truly New York's dumbest.
Thats the point, we are done, nothing is changing. Who is gonna strike? Its too late. Teachers cant even figure out when retro gets paid. The union was supposed to handle all these problems. They arent. Its either keep taking the beating or quit.
A Brooklyn high school teacher has been arrested over accusations he had a months-long sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student, police sources said Tuesday.
The abuse began when Mervyn Affoon, 52, a business teacher at the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism in Flatbush, allegedly grabbed the boy’s groin after class in February.
The student was taken aback and resisted. Affoon apologized and asked the teen not to tell anyone what happened, sources said.
A week later, Affoon groped the teen inside an elevator, according to police sources. The teen didn’t object and later agreed to meet Affoon several times at the teacher’s East Flatbush apartment for sex, beginning in March. Legally, the student was not old enough to give consent.
After each encounter, Affoon gave the teen money for food, about $400 in total, sources said.
They did not see each other over the summer but after classes resumed last month they made plans to meet outside school again, though they did not actually do so, sources said.
On Sunday, the student, now 17, told his parents about the abuse.
Police were notified and set the student up on a controlled call with Affoon, sources said.
During the call, the pair talked about getting together again at Affoon’s apartment, but when the student asked if they were going to have sex again Affoon got suspicious he was being set up, sources said.
Still, authorities concluded they had enough evidence to arrest Affoon Monday morning. He was charged with forcible touching, sex abuse, criminal sex act and acting in a manner injurious to a child. His arraignment was pending in Brooklyn Criminal Court Tuesday.
Affoon admitted to saying what was recorded on the call but said he did nothing else wrong, sources said.
"The family of this student is outraged and wants to see that this teacher is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said the family’s lawyer, Scott Rynecki.
Affoon started working for the Education Department in 2006 and has been at the academy, which is based inside Erasmus High School, since 2007, officials said. He has no prior disciplinary history.
“These disturbing allegations have absolutely no place in our schools and represent behavior that violates the trust of students and families,” said Department of Education spokesman Michael Aciman.
Affooon makes $89,700 a year and will remain on the payroll pending the outcome of the case.
He has been reassigned to a desk job in a central office and won’t have contact with students, Aciman said.
Now thats black on black crime
Really relevant to a possible strike in California. Assholes like the idiots who wrote the last 2 comments are the reason we are totally run over more than Mulgrew.
You are not allowed to say the "S" word in the presence of any member of the UFT. The beatings will continue as usual.
teacher in brooklyn at erasmus having sex with student, very relevant to teachers.
Ok, I am getting real tired of all you tools who keep going off topic. What the hell is wrong with you guys? We see enough violence and drama at school every day but don't want to hear about it here when the topic is teacher strikes. Do you see me going onto some blog that has a focus on crime and then I bring up teacher strikes? NO! So will you all please stay on topic.
My bad. Back to our miserable, disgusting jobs.
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