{"id":22031,"date":"2018-09-16T00:12:58","date_gmt":"2018-09-16T08:12:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.richgibson.com\/blog\/?p=22031"},"modified":"2018-09-16T20:08:11","modified_gmt":"2018-09-17T04:08:11","slug":"rouge-forum-dispatch-mephistopheles-on-the-march","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.richgibson.com\/blog\/rouge-forum-dispatch-mephistopheles-on-the-march\/","title":{"rendered":"Rouge Forum Dispatch: Mephistopheles on the March!"},"content":{"rendered":"

We Say Fight Back!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"No<\/p>\n

Job Action Guidelines<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h1>\n

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by Rich Gibson<\/h2>\n

The strike is any worker’s most potent weapon. Short of guerilla warfare or revolution, the general strike is the highest form of open resistance. School workers strikes are especially effective because they immediately ruin the baby-sitting role schools play. Hence, a strike denies surrounding companies the full attention of their work force. Over time, strikes begin to expose the nature of school itself, an institution designed forthe most part not to serve the mass of people but only a tiny minority of the citizens. Even so, school can be a weapon for equality and democracy.<\/p>\n

In the best of world’s, thorough strike preparations are frequently enough to be the justification for bargaining victories. Ours, more and more, is a defective universe. Preparations may well be not enough. Our preparations should be real, not sham. The employer should never be given reason to believe that they face a bluff.<\/p>\n

A strike is a battle of will. But we should minimize the sacrifice the rank and file must make. A thoroughly prepared strike can draw a local and its community much closer together. But a poorly prepared strike, even if it wins on paper, can cause divisions that take a long time to heal.<\/p>\n

The key components of strike readiness are:<\/p>\n

A. Membership and Public Preparation<\/p>\n

B. Legal Preparation<\/p>\n

C. Financial and Materials Preparation<\/p>\n

D. Communications, Planning–Strategy and Tactics<\/p>\n

Lets take these one at a time. (Obviously, written years ago and updated in the late nineties. Still holds up as ok) richgibson.com\/JOBACTIO.html<\/a><\/p>\n

District files injunction, parents picket against teachers in Battle Ground \u2018holding their kids hostage\u2019 (set up Strike Freedom Schools to offset babysitting role)<\/h1>\n

\"Parents<\/p>\n

BATTLE GROUND, WA (KPTV) – Teachers in Battle Ground continue to push for higher wages as other students across southwest Washington return to school. The district is the last in southwest Washington where teachers are still on strike.<\/p>\n

Parents ready for the strike to end Thursday picketed near Battle Ground High School in protest as tens of thousands of students missed their twelfth day of class.<\/p>\n

Parents and a few students Thursday afternoon filled a busy intersection on Main Street, hoisting signs in the air that say they\u2019re \u201cagainst this strike\u201d that is \u201cholding their kids hostage\u201d.<\/p>\n

Some parents said they are struggling because their kids don\u2019t have childcare, and others say the strike is illegal.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrustration is building on both sides,\u201d Tyler Long, the organizer of the demonstration Thursday, said.<\/p>\n

The demonstration comes as the school board files an injunction in an attempt to force teacher back to class\u2013a legal action Long says he is proud of.\u00a0 www.kptv.com\/news\/district-files-injunction-parents-picket-against-teachers-in-battle-ground\/article_f7735186-b7d9-11e8-8e47-d30264ffbd94.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Tumwater district says school will start Friday, after teachers vote to keep striking: No SCABBING!<\/h3>\n

\"Tumwater<\/p>\n

Hours after a Thurston County Superior Court Judge told striking Tumwater teachers to go back to work, the teachers voted to stay on the picket line.<\/p>\n

In response, Tumwater School District officials issued notice that teachers should report to work Thursday, and students should expect to begin classes on Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile there is nothing we\u2019d like more than to end this strike and be back where we are most comfortable, after a lot of individual reflection and group discussion, we\u2019re not giving up on our students, our community and ourselves,\u201d Tumwater Education Association President Tim Voie said in a news release Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe will go back to school when the district is ready to give us a fair and reasonable contract that will attract and retain great teachers and keep our students safe,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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Teachers said they do not want to defy the judge\u2019s injunction, according to the release, but added \u201cthey have little other choice since the district is bent on settling this in court rather than at the bargaining table where they are refusing to budge.\u201cWe will be back on the picket lines tomorrow (Thursday) and the day after and so on until our bargaining team tells us they have reached a fair and reasonable agreement,\u201d Voie said.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the district notified the union Wednesday that the first scheduled work day for teachers is Thursday and the first scheduled day for students is Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the teachers do not report to work, the district will be forced to take the necessary steps the judge outlined in court to seek relief,\u201d the district said in a news release….Read more here: www.theolympian.com\/news\/local\/education\/article218199305.html#storylink=cpy<\/a><\/p>\n

Tacoma teachers reject latest contract, prepare to rally for higher pay<\/h1>\n

Wednesday, September 12th 2018<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Image<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

TACOMA, Wash. — The Tacoma School District is inviting office staff and paraeducators to cross the picket line for extra pay, even though there won’t be any kids in schools.<\/p>\n

The teachers union calls it a strikebreaking tactic and is urging those classified employees to honor the strike. This comes as teachers reject the latest contract offered by the district.<\/p>\n

“Our proposal represents a 12.45 percent increase in teacher salaries,” said Dan Voelpel at a news conference Wednesday morning. “That’s up from 3.1 percent this time last week when the teachers voted to strike. The district says more than $18 million is going to teacher pay.<\/p>\n

The district is asking the union to put this new proposal to a vote.<\/p>\n

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While that was going on, striking teachers at a giant rally were yelling from the street below.<\/p>\n

“Tacoma Public Schools hear our call, your best offer is way too small.”\u00a0 komonews.com\/news\/local\/tacoma-teachers-reject-latest-contract-prepare-to-rally-for-higher-pay<\/a><\/p>\n

Teachers in East Stroudsburg PA Area District Strike<\/h1>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u2014 Teachers in an eastern Pennsylvania<\/a> school district have gone on strike.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Picket lines were set up Monday outside schools in the East Stroudsburg Area School District, where classes had been canceled earlier until further notice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The school board criticized the looming strike last week, saying it would accomplish nothing and “will only hurt the students and their families.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The East Stroudsburg Education Association accused the board of taking a hard stance, saying the teachers had “put forth multiple proposals that are fair and affordable.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Teachers have been working without a contract for two years, and the two sides remain apart on health care and salary issues.<\/p>\n

Below, Evergreen Teachers Association, San Jose<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

www.facebook.com\/etanews\/videos\/2140199049639976\/?t=11<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Nurses file lawsuit against Michigan Medicine, threaten work stoppage<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
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Nurses from the University of Michigan Professional Nurses Council are voting this week to consider a work stoppage in protest to what they say are “unfair labor practices” at UM hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities.<\/p>\n

The UMPC believes the university is breaking both state and federal law by repeatedly violating the workplace rights of employees, provoking the union to take legal action before the Michigan Employment Relations Commission and in federal court.<\/p>\n

Voting to consider authorizing a work stoppage in protest of unfair labor practices, which began on Monday, will continue through Sunday, Sept. 16.<\/p>\n

If there are enough votes to legally declare a work stoppage, and the union wishes to proceed with a strike, Michigan Medicine and its members would be given 10 days notice to prepare for any staffing shortages, UMPNC\/Michigan Nurses Association Chairwoman Katie Oppenheim said.\u00a0 www.mlive.com\/news\/ann-arbor\/index.ssf\/2018\/09\/nurses_file_lawsuit_against_mi.html<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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