Maybe this time will be different and these strikes will grow. It's not quite a general strike but we could be moving in that direction. Hopefully, word will get out and many workers will join.
From Hill Rising:
Krystal and Saagar discuss a report from the Intercept about upcoming worker walkouts at Amazon, Google, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Instacart and Fed Ex over poor working conditions, COVID outbreaks, and hazard pay.
From Common Dreams:
Among the lead organizers of the action, Motherboard reported Wednesday, is Chris Smalls, the Amazon worker who was fired last month from his job at a fulfillment center in Staten Island after organizing a protest.
"We formed an alliance between a bunch of different companies because we all have one common goal which is to save the lives of workers and communities," Smalls told Motherboard.
"Right now isn't the time to open up the economy," Smalls added. "Amazon is a breeding ground [for this virus] which is spreading right now through multiple facilities."
Unless there is a vaccine for COVID-19 which we all hope happens sooner than now, our time may come again in the not too distant future when workers employed in schools will be asked to go into contaminated school buildings. Will you have the guts to walk out if it's unsafe even if the UFT doesn't endorse your action?
23 comments:
James,
This is my Strike. I just emailed my principal stating that I will submit my30 days notice on the first day we return to the physical school building, whenever that is. The grade fraud, constant abuse, the coronavirus, etc, etc, etc, all played parts. This job is not worth it. I could easily be dead now. The uft has been a complete waste. For the record, I am nowhere near retirement age, but no longer willing to do this forever. No longer willing to watch my years die while I'm so unhappy. My "job" is to go into a school and get cursed and then pass everyone. If I was grading from 0-100, many would get 0 or 5 or 10, not 55. They can keep my salary.
"Will you have the guts to walk out if it's unsafe even if the UFT doesn't endorse your action?"
I will have the guts to walk IN, even if the UFT waffles as I expect it will. I will walk in because I have worked in unsafe (physically, emotionally, etc.) buildings for 27 years; I will walk in cuz it is my job and I am paid by taxpayers; I will walk in because students need real educational experiences; I will walk in because I have come to terms with my mortality and believe that when the final stats are in we will see that corona death rate wont be much higher than many seasonal flus. If I were in a more vulnerable group, I may make a different decision.
I know this is heresy now among our mob frenzy, but all this is panic porn and most people are now addicted to their fear.
Take a look at all causes of death.
Add them up.
Death: you can mitigate and delay, but you can't avoid.
Who has the guts to face this?
Why are you so afraid?
Take a look at the funeral homes with bodies piled high. This is no bad flu. Switch off right wing media and use the brain God gave you.
Bill de Blasio is commenting on the ICEblog now. Or was 10:28 Michael Mulgrew?
Death rate is up 10:28. Look at March and April statistics. Yes death is inevitable but why push it?
Fact: New York's COVID-19 death toll is staggering. It far exceeds any other state in America and, at this point, anywhere on Earth. Denser places have weathered the storm far better.
This can only be argued against for so long. New York massively and tragically screwed up.
If 10:28 has his way, we will do it again and the death toll can be even more staggering.
Target workers are much more courageous than the average NYC teacher.
10:28 represents the typical NYC educator. Willing to die rather than have a spine. Bet he worked March 17,18 and 19.
Good luck 9:50PM. I hear you. The job is awful. Good luck.
I support any worker that strikes for almost any reason. People have an inherent human right to say no and withhold their labor. These folks are are at delivery and retail. What happens when they strike at the production stage? That’s happening. Countries in Europe are closing their borders, food (milk, meat etc.) there and here are being destroyed, because no one is processing it. The food supply chain could stop. If that happens, there will be chaos. And by chaos, I mean you better have a gun. It’s the reason Trump signed his executive order forcing workers back into the slaughter houses. If those folks refuse, because they correctly believe they are endangering themselves and their families, do we still support them? As a unionist, I have to say yes - but as a son, a parent and a teacher I’d have to say, very reluctantly, no. This virus is going be the impetus for major changes in society. It will usher in an accelerated automated workforce, as well as a move away from urban centers of working and learning, to home centered workplaces and ‘schools’. This would not have happened prior to the virus. It’s a reformatting of society that has the potential to cause its destruction. Happy May Day.
I have great admiration for the medical people, police, firefighters, amazon workers, etc. who have continued to go to work during Corona time. I also feel similar to @10:28 but I will not return to teaching until we can all be tested for antibodies effectively.
I would be guilt-ridden if I transferred the virus to one of my students. I have already had students from my school lose parents to CoViD-19. What if the children were infected in school in March and unknowingly passed the virus on to their parents? This is a possibility.
When I start to feel guilty about collecting a tax-paid paycheck, I think of what a corrupt money pit the DOE is, and the taxpayers don't seem to mind. So, those feelings of guilt are easily extinguished. The only job truly necessary in a school system is the teacher. Every other position, from AP up to the chancellor, has work created for that position in order to justify its existence and paycheck.
Lastly, I remember that the majority of NYC public school teachers are just babysitters. The mayor and the governor confirmed that in several briefings in March and April.
Those who state we must have a vaccine safely administered to all Americans prior to opening up our economy/schools are setting the bar too high and setting a course to American financial ruin (not to mention the staggering death toll and damaging ill health from financial ruin that accompany such a course).
Bronx ATR, What would you have these workers do: work in infected factories so we can have cheap pork?
These workers in some ways are like the coal miners from an earlier era you so revere.
The greedy corporations are going to need to give in a little and make working conditions as safe as possible.
Wonder if NYC could simply furlough us and have us return in January of 2021. While the furlough would be without pay and the time would not count in the retirement system I could see the Mayor/Governor justifying it as an "abundance of caution", "erring on the safe side", and giving the teachers union what they want (a return when we are positive all are 1000% safe from the virus). I guess it could be extended to hit a firm vaccine administration date.
They didn't even give us Holy Thursday and Good Friday. You think they are going to give us five months off, even if they don't pay us. That would essentially be a lockout. I don't know if it is legal in NY.
Washington Post
"Doctors and public health officials said the coronavirus increasingly is infecting people who cannot afford to miss work or telecommute — grocery store employees, delivery drivers and construction workers."
They need to be able to withhold their labor to ensure the maximum safety possible.
James, There certainly are similarities between Trump and Churchill. Would Trump, like Churchill, have striking protesters arbitrarily shot? This isn’t just pork - this has the potential to reach into every food source. Most cities have enough food for only three days. Some folks are protesting for hazard pay. That and a safe environment will be the impetus to get them to work, while we stay home. But what happens when that hazard pay and stimulus check can’t buy a loaf of bread or quart of milk? Our fiat money is just paper and metal. It’s only worth only what it can buy. If it can’t buy anything - it’s worthless. Pragmatism and idealism become enemies when stomachs are empty. A May Day lesson learned in Europe and Russia long ago. Cheers.
There is no sign that hyperinflation is on the way. Interest rates are near zero.
Can you even a knowledge that Chuchill evolved on the trade union issue?
He would be on the far left in US politics now.
On the trade union issue that is.
Hyperinflation, not yet - there are worrisome signs. There’s a kid here in my neighborhood, that worked in a restaurant making a hundred a week. He’s now making 600 a week from unemployment. His cousin makes a hundred a week - the same amount he made before the virus - working in a supermarket, exposing himself and his family. Why would anyone go back to work in a dangerous (or not) workplace, when they can stay home and make much more? Then there’s the stimulus checks. If the country just keeps printing money, there’s a real chance that balloon filled with confetti could bust. The longer this virus lasts, the more likely that scenario occurs. A wheelbarrow full of money for a loaf of bread. I hope not and I detest Trump, but not blindly hate him. He is trying, if only he could keep his mouth shut. Churchill’s another matter entirely. All my Social Studies buddies are debating with us. So far you’re ahead with them, but that may be because of the Anglocentric inherent bias of our education system. Cheers
The extra unemployment is for a finite period of time. Mostly red state governors are opening economies up in part to make sure they don't have to pay extra benefits. Come to work or you have quit and are not going to get unemployment.
Glad I am ahead with the social studies teachers on Churchill with my Anglo bias. God save the queen, we mean it man.
10:28 might be right about the nationwide death rate but where we work it was indeed higher. And all the variables working against us will still be there particularly public transit.
Shelley in the other thread though brought up a good reason not to be so bullish on pushing remote learning.
While I see on CNBC some promise in regard to a vaccine I've also read where this will likely be with us for 18-24 months if not forever on a seasonal basis. We can't usher in the Dark Ages where we hole up in a bunker mentality. All the exceptions to the "rules" acknowledge this reality already.
Cuomo made the expected announcement so we have until September, although it needs to be figured out now, not ad hoc. I hope we open for summer, those of us willing can work per session and if you're not willing you can stay home.
Yes, September will require some people to get over their fear like they had to after 9/11. But we also paid better attention to unattended bags, didn't let people on planes with the same stuff, etc. The DOE will need to get over its obsession with collectivism (group work, group seating, etc.). Adopting a schedule like the Kindergartens (outside the City) with AM and PM half-days is a no-brainer. The City will have to get over its hatred of private automobiles. The list is long.
There are a lot of issues. How can a teacher help a student or work quietly with them(one to one or small group) remaining 6 feet apart? Hopefully student will adjust to no more than 12 in a room at a time and feel comfortable to ask questions.
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