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...
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