Strike Vote Deferred!

It is with a great sense of relief that I report the deferment of Boston's teacher strike vote. As of last night, there had been no progress in talks. So, today, on a day full of messy weather and apprehensions, the BTU membership arrived at the union hall. Outside, there were cameras everywhere. We were not allowed in without Union ID. As soon as I stepped into the hall, I saw an assembled mass of teachers-- up to a couple thousand all in one room!

I was all ready to make a speech about loving our profession and demonstrating a reluctance to stop doing our jobs. However, when President Stutman reported the status of negotiations, it became clear that there there had been progress. The district had given in on class sizes and principals' rights to fire teachers at will. There were murmurs of nervousness at that announcement.

Soon, we debated whether or not to defer our strike motion. I knew, at this point, that nobody from our school was going to vote for a strike, but our membership was deeply divided. We heard points of view from both sides. At one point, one member compared our struggle to civil rights in the 1960's. Anyone who knows anything about the Civil Rights movement should understand that to compare it with a labor dispute is to belittle the significance and hardship of that period in American history. The irreverence of that argument raised my ire, and I pointed out that the two were not even close to being the same thing. In the end, however, common sense prevailed in at least 51% of the teachers. Despite having to re-vote twice, and emotions running high, the motion to defer a strike vote until February 28 passed with a simple majority.

I had gone in there confident that we would have to strike the next day. What a relief to find that prayers had been answered regarding two important issues and that we could continue to do our jobs.

On another note, according to our lawyer, it appears we are going to sue the school department for violating our civil rights by banning discussion of a strike. That's politics, I'm afraid.

Preparing for Winter Youth Retreat

Talks between the union and the district continue to stall. It looks more and more likely that there will be a strike on Thursday... unless a winter storm can save us! (It's coming)

Meanwhile, no matter what happens in the next few days, I'll be bringing some youths to a retreat in New Hampshire on Friday. We'll be enjoying some time away from the city while listening for the still, small voice. It's good to know that at the end of this intense week, there will be time to do the work that is really important-- mentoring and shepherding the youth to grow in loving the Lord. This will be my third year attending this retreat as a youth worker, eighth year overall.

When I was in 8th grade, attending this same retreat was one of the things that God used to turn my life around. Back then, it was at Singing Hills, NH-- I remember the power in truth that seemed to grab me during sermons about having clean hands and pure heart. I remember the warmth I felt in being accepted by everyone there, especially the youth workers, like T. Lo who was my counselor. Sure, snow-football and tubing was a blast. Believe me, when you're small, any tubing hill seems huge to you. But more importantly than all that, it was there that I was first convicted of my sin and my need for a savior.

I hope this weekend will be like that for some kid-- maybe for a few. I hope they have fun and enjoy being cared for by other kids and counselors. At the heart of it all, however, I really hope they will understand that their sin is worse than they realize, but that they are loved more greatly than they could ever imagine.

Teacher Union Ad

I spoke a bit to my boss today about the role of civic-disobedience for a Christian educator. Our conversation didn't go very far, but it was clear to me that he believes we're in a very gray area. Are all laws to be regarded the same way? This law forbidding public workers from striking-- is it one that must be violated from time to time, like Jesus' treatment of the Sabbath laws? (I'm not sure I understand that very well.) He also mentioned that he believes the mayor is counting on the strike to "force" him to give into some demands. Since my boss is close to the mayor, this is very interesting to me.



Enjoy this advertisement about the only issue that actually interests me in this whole collective bargaining dispute.

Union Activity Update

Sure would appreciate having some prayer on this...
The Teachers Union and the School Department are at a standstill right now in contract negotiations. The rhetoric has been heating up, and we are, in fact, in the "eleventh hour." I've got two buttons and a sign in my window that say something about a "Fair Contract." Yesterday, our Interim Superintendent issued a statement to parents warning them of possible school disruption for next Thursday-- signaling his unwillingness to bend. Meanwhile, the courts have declared any strike--or even discussion of a work stoppage-- illegal

That's how I found myself and several dozen other teachers in the school basement on Wednesday. A vague e-mail had implored us to attend an emergency meeting for an unmentionable purpose after school, so I went. In the chilly and dark space, the science teacher talked about what might happen if contract negotiations did not improve. Like troops in a bunker, we were given directions of what to do in case things went badly: how will we inform one another of impending action? Who is most likely to be arrested? Who do we call in case the worst scenarios occur?

The city has put in for a "cease and desist" order to stop the union from continuing in its contingency plans. Next Wednesday, the union will convene in South Boston. There we will debate, and in all likelihood, break the law by voting on how to take action. Thursday is the planned day of political action.

As I wrote previously, I'm not sure where I stand-- health care and class sizes don't seem like civil disobedience-worthy disagreements...

A Library!

One of my students asked me today if I still maintain my blog site. The answer is, "Yes, M----, I'm still posting." (notice the use of a comma before starting a quote in mid-sentence.) There's a lot going on in school, church, and city.

A little less than a year ago, I joined in the multitude of voices from Chinatown advocating the case for a local branch library by testifying at City Hall. Well, after that hearing, about $350,000 was earmarked for an exploratory task force to study the feasibility of opening a library branch in Chinatown. Finally, after many months, our library task force met for the first time, last Thursday. Our meeting was mostly introductory, but we laid out a time-table that stretches to a couple of years. It's pretty exciting that we're interviewing architectural firms soon, but no construction will occur for at least 2 years.

"I fully support the restoration of a BPL branch in Chinatown. In order to do so, we need to create an ad hoc committee to advocate for the library, implement strategies used in successful models in LA and Oakland, research and locate a proper location, lobby the mayor to set aside capital funding, and lobby for state and federal funding after securing mayoral support." -- the Mayor's Chinatown Library Task Force, as described by Councilor Matt O'Malley

Chinatown Library, as seen in L.A.

I was asked, as a teacher, what I would like in a Chinatown library. Well, it would be great to have internet access for research, as well as a significant collection of young adult literature. Seeing that we are in Chinatown, it would also be appropriate for there to be books printed in Chinese in the stacks. I'm not sure I believe anymore, as I said in my testimony at City Hall, that a library will help to curtail violence in the city. It seems kind of a ridiculous stretch to claim that. However, I do think that a library will improve the quality of education and life in this corner of the city. Maybe that will have an indirect impact on youth related crimes.

It's funny that the building my school occupies is being bid for by several groups, including my church, my apartment building's developer, and friends of the library campaign. People often ask me, "When are you moving out?" All I can say is that we've been slated for demolition for several years now. Who knows if we'll ever move out. It's amazing how much demand for land there is here and how little of it there is.

No matter where it is, wouldn't it be awesome to have a library in Chinatown? It's probably not even one of the most important things that God desires for this corner of the city, but being involved in this is one of way to "seek the peace and prosperity of the city" to which God has carried me. (Jer. 29:7)