What should happen if teachers go on strike?

[exitseven]

School has started in some of the local communities this week. Teachers usually wait two weeks after the first day of school to go on strike. Parents have already cancelled their daycare arrangements and the teachers know that the parents are at their mercy. This is a well known tactic.

Even though it is written into many of their contracts that they are prohibited from striking they will do it anyway and so far none has had any consequences other that a nice raise and better benefits.

I worked in a K-12 system and the Superintendent told me he had a file folder full of resumes and could replace everyone in a couple of weeks should they go on strike.

I would tell them all that whoever does not show up for work tomorrow should just plan on not coming back.

Updates

5 d

In 1981 President Reagan fired all the air Traffic controllers for striking. He was able to have replacements in a short period of time. My old boss knew a couple of them. They were making over $50,000 a year as an ATC which was a lot of money back then, but had to take jobs as dispatchers at college campus police for $15.,000/ year.

[Chazmatazz269]

Teachers are under-appreciated and underpaid. What should happen is districts should pay their teachers better and show them the respect they deserve. Then there would be no strikes. Same should go for parents. When i was young and teachers reported kids’ bad behavior to parents, the parents appropriately punished the kids. Now parents are literally attacking teachers for holding children accountable for their behavior. But teachers are supposed to consider those same parents when it’s time to stand up for themselves against lousy employers? Please. What goes around comes around. Don’t start sh*t and there won’t be sh*t. That’s the whole purpose of a union. People can stand up together against odds that would be insurmountable to an individual.

[AviatorTom]

Any teacher who goes on strike in violation of their contract should immediately be fired and their position opened up for hiring a replacement. To be fair, they can apply for their old job but if hired, they start as a first year teacher, with that pay level.

Teachers striking does nothing but harm the children they are supposed to be teaching, so anything that can help prevent a strike is fair game.

[exitseven]

My old boss told me he could replace all the teachers in a week. Being A teacher is a good job these days. 183 days and you ger a nice pension at the end. I knew a teacher that said it is the only job where you can have job and a life too.
They get so pissed when you tell them what a soft touch they have.

[midnightmoon05]

I love what I do. I do have to add to this that, we are not being appreciated by society and the pay is very low for what we do. We also bring work home.

[midnightmoon05]

I was in China for 6 weeks. When I told some locals that I am a teacher... they all showed lots of respect. I was very shocked and finally asked why. They said, teachers in China are well regarded and highly respected by kids, adults and society.
That feeling is priceless.

[midnightmoon05]

According to what I learned. The leaders get to throw into jail and have their paychecks taking away. And those who strike get their income taking away or something anlong that line. But all my years of teaching… have never seen any one strike. They just complain. I did go once to protest, I learned that it’s not effective so I have never participated again.

now… if teachers truly want to make changes… I will go strike. But I learned it will never happen because they live in fear. It’s call the golden cuff.

one sad thing is I do see some teachers who dislike kids and complain about their students alllll the time… that breaks my heart.
I believe all kids can learn. I especially love those who show their own thinkings

[exitseven]

Years ago when my kids were in school the teachers went on strike. I called the chairman of the School Committee not to cave to their demands. I told him I had a degrees in Computer Science and Business and my wife had a degree in the life sciences. We would take over a few classes and I told him I could probably find a few other people to do the same thing. He appreciated what I said but a few days later the strike ended and the teachers got a nice fat raise.
A couple of weeks later I ran into him at the dump. I went over and introduced myself to him. He told me that he really appreciated what I said and he wished that there were more people that thought the same way. However all the other parents told him to settle this as fast as they could because they cancelled their daycare and had to miss work to take care of their kids.

[midnightmoon05]

Not sure what they negotiated.
Our 5 yr. contract is 2-3% a yr. pay increase. Not able to keep up with inflation.
So if the teachers truly want something, they have to strike. Again... I only read that teachers in this city strike one time in the 60s or 70s.
The contract and union is very weak.

[midnightmoon05]

I would love to see them replace some teachers.

Silly story... We often have to go on these nonsense prof. devel. as a grade. So the shcool have to send in 6-12 sub teachers.

Some subs were on their cell phone the whole time.
Some had their legs up on the desk.
Some ran out, couldn't handle the class.
Some did bother look over lesson plans left on the desk. (We wondered why we even leave plans for sub teachers)
Some asked... so what do I do here?

[NoDecision]

Seems like every time they pass a bond measure to get money for new books, or something to help the kids, the teachers decide they want that money too and go on strike. I guess they don't love their kids as much as they pretend to.

[FrodoSkywalker007]

@NoDecision worked for a while in a local school district. Many don't 🤷‍♂️

[TrueConfection]

They do that where I live too. The teachers get pretty harsh with the parents and the students and money is always the issue. These contracts need to be negotiated over the summer break.

[888theGreat]

Well really can't do anything. They would have you by your balls. Both Parents work or one parent work. It would completely screw their schedules up. Of course firing them would be justified but how would you replace them all? My opinion is that they agreed to the terms when they took the job. They knew what to expect. When they use their students in protests it drives me crazy.

[exitseven]

it is what is in the teachers union playbook. Wait two weeks after school starts and then go on strike. The parents have cancelled daycare and they will call the School Committee and tell them to settle this.

[888theGreat]

Air Traffic Contollers strike was not about what they made but working conditions and hours by the way. Nothing like a teacher strike

[exitseven]

@888thegreat what is the same is it was in their contract that they could not strike. President Reagan gave them 48 hours to return to work and then he fired them all and replaced them with new controllers.

[strateguy632]

i love your conclusion like regan and air traffic crew. only if court approved strike for real problem but not hostages!

also if dept. ed. is small then states can each handle it differently. trump benefit.

[RachyRach]

If they're protesting for a good reason, they should do it when kids aren't there. It's not fair that the kids have to suffer.

[exitseven]

@RachyRach The kids don;t suffer. The parents suffer and so do the taxpayers. They do it like this so parents call the School Committee and tell them to give the teachers whatever they want to end this because one parent has to stay home with the kids.

[jshm2]

Nothing. It's a protected mode of protest under your shitty constitution.

Plus they are unionized. So suck it up, buttercup.

[FrodoSkywalker007]

You seem really jealous 🤷‍♂️

[exitseven]

@jshm2 What about if they have a contract that they all ratified that specifies that they cannot strike?

[Jamie05rhs]

A teacher should never go on strike. That's is extremely unacceptable. It's very disruptive to a child's learning environment.

[TrueConfection]

Now the teachers make the students go on strikes! I could tell you a few first hand stories.

[Jamie05rhs]

@TrueConfection I know, right?

[exitseven]

@TrueConfection Yes, they get the kids to join them on the picket line.

[TrueConfection]

@exitseven Not only their own picket line, but whatever political battle they feel the need to push. My kid had to sit in the library during class time because class time was cancelled and he refused to stand outside with an anti-2A sign (among other protests).

[exitseven]

@TrueConfection He sounds like a fine young man.

[TrueConfection]

Thank you! I taught all my kiddos the value and privilege of education and that it’s never okay to walk out.

[DryGermanGuy]

In Germany, officers of the state (teachers, police, administrators…) are not allowed to strike.

[FrodoSkywalker007]

My experience in the system is the same 🤷‍♂️
Some teachers are very delusional.
Many see the children as their own and don't want the parents involved.
Many are groomers.

[Pterodon]

Anything to get out of being forced to go to school is a blessing to me. Strike away and make it last a very long time

[NathanDavis]

not like the USA cares about education...

[Just_Ken]

Workers have the right to withdraw labour.

[fishbone77]

they should be fired immediately.

[OlderAndWiser]

Agreed!