Saturday, January 17, 2004
Our First Real Meeting!
Okay, everyone! We're having our first real meeting. We'll be talking about who we are and what we do, as well as getting to know each other.
Now, we planned this meeting weeks ago, so it is merely coincidence (we think) that the ifrst meeting will butt up close against the first of the superintendent's "Town Hall" meetings this Wednesday night. Rest assured, we will be heading en masse to the meeting at Marshall High School. Here's the skinny:
Our next meeting after that will be Thursday, February 12, if you want to plan ahead.
Now, we planned this meeting weeks ago, so it is merely coincidence (we think) that the ifrst meeting will butt up close against the first of the superintendent's "Town Hall" meetings this Wednesday night. Rest assured, we will be heading en masse to the meeting at Marshall High School. Here's the skinny:
Who: Teachers Speak OutWe hope to see you there, and bring colleagues with you!
What: Our First Meeting
When: Wednesday, January 21, 5:00 pm
Where: Bean Head Cafe, 1835 N. Martin Luther King Dr.
Our next meeting after that will be Thursday, February 12, if you want to plan ahead.
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Town Hall Meetings
Coming shortly after the news that the Milwaukee Public Schools has requested a state mediator in the contract dipsutes that they claim are going too slowly*, we got word today that the superintendent plans to hold two "Town Hall" meetings to speak with the public and with teachers about the high cost of teacher benefits.
Teachers Speak Out plans to be at these meetings, of course, to present our positive message and a united front for the public--and the media.
Our superintendent seems bent on doing two things during these contract negotiations. First, he wants to divide us: young teachers vs. old, and teachers vs. the community. If he can undermine any public support for teachers in this town--we will lose. If he can succeed in convincing some of us to accept the unacceptable--we will lose.
The second thing he seems up to is carrying out negotiations in the media. The * is in the post above to note that the district, in its haste to request a state mediator, is actually the guilty party when it comes to stalling tactics, forcing the union, in fact, to file a prohibitive labor practice claim in October because they refused to meet! The district seems unwilling to address real issues at the bargaining table, because they know that they are not actually committed to improving education in this district. They have one item on their agenda: cutting teacher benefits.
Teachers Speak Out plans to be at these meetings, of course, to present our positive message and a united front for the public--and the media.
Our superintendent seems bent on doing two things during these contract negotiations. First, he wants to divide us: young teachers vs. old, and teachers vs. the community. If he can undermine any public support for teachers in this town--we will lose. If he can succeed in convincing some of us to accept the unacceptable--we will lose.
The second thing he seems up to is carrying out negotiations in the media. The * is in the post above to note that the district, in its haste to request a state mediator, is actually the guilty party when it comes to stalling tactics, forcing the union, in fact, to file a prohibitive labor practice claim in October because they refused to meet! The district seems unwilling to address real issues at the bargaining table, because they know that they are not actually committed to improving education in this district. They have one item on their agenda: cutting teacher benefits.
