WTU President Testifies DCPS' Refusal to start Contract Negotiations Hurts Kids & Teachers скачать в хорошем качестве

WTU President Testifies DCPS' Refusal to start Contract Negotiations Hurts Kids & Teachers

On Wednesday, October 18th, WTU President Jacqueline Pogue Lyons called Chancellor Ferebee's a no-show to teacher contract negotiations. DCPS' focus on ground rules versus #realsolutionsforkids creates an unnecessary 'delaying tactic.' Read Full Testimony Below Thank you for the opportunity to speak today about what’s best for the students and DCPS’ delaying tactics on a new WTU contract, which expired September 30th. I’m not going to mince words today. On at least two occasions, DCPS told the press they have been actively “negotiating” with the WTU on a new contract since the beginning of the year. That would be news to my 25-member contract negotiations team that started their work in the Spring before the end of school. Ask any of the WTU team members if they have ever seen the Chancellor or any member of DCPS’ team? They have not come to the table. Throughout the summer, the WTU team worked on comprehensive student- and teacher-focused proposals. Multiple times, we sent the Chancellor’s team possible dates and times to meet. You know what we got as their response? A one-word email: “Received.” As part of their delaying tactics, DCPS leadership continues to focus on meaningless “ground rules.” An exercise that would cause even more delay in the process. Even after the WTU made it clear that the teachers are ready for serious negotiations on consequential proposals that affect teaching and learning, DCPS continues to focus on delaying tactics, such as a back and forth on insignificant rules. We are way past the time to discuss rules that are already articulated in DC’s City Code. It is time to get to the table and work on the real issues in DC’s schools. Whether they like it or not, there’s a teachers’ union in this city that they have an obligation to work with. And frankly, it would be to the students’ benefit if they worked with us. We are the ones who have brought the chancellor and the mayor serious recommendations to deal – right now – with the very serious problem of violence in DCPS schools and in the surrounding neighborhoods. Refusing to work with us on real solutions is to the detriment of every student, educator and family in the city. About a year ago, we concluded negotiations with the city on a retroactive contract. That took over three years after the contract’s expiration. They may not feel like meeting with us in-person to negotiate a new contract, but that’s too bad. Our current contract expired last month, and everyone in this city knows we have critical issues that must be addressed. The chancellor and his team can’t be let off the hook. They owe it to the students of DCPS and their educators to show up. It past time to work on real contract proposals that will provide safe and healthy schools, quality working conditions, and effective learning conditions. As time drags on, teachers’ morale wanes and teacher recruiting and retention get much harder. This is bad for kids, it’s bad for our community. I hope you agree with me and approve a resolution urging the Chancellor and his negotiations team to get serious and meet with the WTU as soon as possible. Thank you.