What's your opinion of teachers who cross the picket line?

[Locut0s]

Last edited Sun Nov 25, 2012, 01:05 AM - Edit history (1)

Both the support and faculty unions at the university I attend have been going on rotating strikes these past few weeks. They have been striking on random days, giving 72 hours notice as per law. We've missed about 4 days of classes so far these past several weeks. I support teachers unions 100% but I have to say that this IS fucking up our semester, especially for those students who are already struggling.

Now the vast majority of teachers don't cross the picket line. Whether it's the support union OR teachers unions. Many join the line fact, some even in support of the support staff strikes. However I've had one teacher make it clear to us that he doesn't agree with this strike (there is nothing special about this one just asking for better pay and benefits and they AREN'T overpaid compared to other colleges) and is making a point of being at the school during his office and lab hours. Of course he isn't teaching a class because that would further penalize the students who don't show up. But he want's to make it clear he will be there to help any students who decide to come in, crossing the picket line to do so, and want help. I can sympathize with wanting to help students during this period but crossing the picket line is a real dick move IMHO.

I actually like the guy and think he's an ok teacher but I'm starting to think he may be a right winger which would be too bad. I'm not all that convinced he cares about the students because while he mentioned how unfair it is to the students he ALSO told a story about how the last time there was a strike he just went off and did some extra contract work to get extra pay during the strike.

What's your opinion?

One thing to note about this university is that they put extra emphasis on drawing teachers from industry, the school is very job / business oriented and works very closely with industry both in student placement as well as in class design. This means that many of the teachers don't necessarily have an academic background and there may be a higher percentage of right wingers.

[Mothdust]

1. no one should cross a picket line

Especially of teachers! The only people who do are the administrators. Everyone else would be shunned. Teachers or students who crossed would be a-holes and substitutes should have their tires slashed : ) I hope no one is offendedn but that's life in the big city.

[Locut0s]

2. Yeah that's basically how I thought most union members felt, especially teachers so...

so it surprised me this teacher said this. However from asking around, my father is a teacher, I know that some few teachers DO do it. But yeah I think most would be shunned for doing so.

[Mothdust]

3. well and the thing is

Everyone knows that when they accept a union job and pay that is based upon the hard fight and work of others who came before them to secure improved working conditions and academic freedom. They know that every time they cash their paycheck. Each employee is responsible to save for possibility of a strike. Those who don't are basically selfish and irresponsible.

[Shrike47]

4. I think people who cross the line are driven.

Either they can't afford not to go in or their contract requires crossing. (I had to cross at my last job because as a matter of law we were not allowed to strike and we each had professional obligations to a different authority that was not part of the strike.)

We could, however, and did go out and walk the picket line at lunch.

[Edweird]

5. Don't cross. If you don't have solidarity, you've got nothing.

[Locut0s]

6. I'm a student.

[Edweird]

7. I got that. You asked for opinions on teachers that cross picket lines.

They shouldn't.

[B Calm]

8. A union is as strong as the membership.

When you get members like this ass kisser, it only weakens the union.

[newfie11]

9. Crossing picket line=SCAB. Nt

[Lightbulb_on]

10. They may care more about education...

... than their personal benefits.

That is more of the "old school" stereotype though.

[Riley18]

13. I am a teacher and I fully support my union

because I strongly support the education of ALL students. If those teachers who think they are somehow more of a teacher because they cross a picket line had studied Labor History, they would understand that supporting the union is standing with a stronger educational system that works for every student not just for the privleliged few.

[Lightbulb_on]

14. In a grand ethereal sense perhaps...

However, as per the OP this specific strike isn't about educating all students.

there is nothing special about this one just asking for better pay and benefits

They aren't mutually exclusive, education and personal benefit, but each individual has to choose which is most important to them.

[Riley18]

16. The OP also stated that this teacher is

not teaching since all students are not present. To say this one teacher is only concerned for the students implies we know his true motive. The same could be said for the striking teachers. I can say from personal experience that if my salary was more adequate, I would be a better teacher. When teachers have to work second jobs to pay their bills there is less time devoted to planning and instruction.

[Locut0s]

21. In fact I'm not all that convinced he cares a huge amount about the students...

He mentioned how unfair it is to the students BUT he also told a story about how the last time there was a strike he just went off and did some extra contract work to get extra pay during the strike.

[Kingofalldems]

11. They are scabs

Even lower than zombies here at DU.

[Riley18]

12. Should not cross the picket line for any reason.

This teacher is not accomplishing anything - no students there so he is just announcing he does not respect his colleagues.

[lunatica]

15. When the staff at UC Berkeley went on strike for 3 days both students and teachers

joined us. As a matter of fact since we shut the entire university down for three days most of the department managers and the Grad Student Instructors joined us too. The construction workers refused to cross the picket lines too. One union member stood all by herself as the line at one of the off-campus construction sites for the three days and manages to convince the hard hats to honor her line.

[Locut0s]

23. Good to hear. 3 Days is nice and short though. When school strikes go one for 2+ weeks then...

things get really bad for both sides. Not sure how long ours is going to last but they are starting to escalate it slowly and there's precedent for a 2 week long strike (some years back they had one).

[Sancho]

17. Don't cross the line...

faculty love their jobs and students, but the best thing to do is get a fair contract so that education can continue.

[Smarmie Doofus]

18. Same as yours: "a dick move".

Except we're not supposed to say "d---" anymore 'cause it's sexist.

I think.

[Chloe3]

19. no one should cross a picket line.

The unions actually have the students', teachers', and all workers' best interest at heart. The same cannot be said of those only looking at money and trying to give bonuses to a few while the rest are left to live on less and less every year.

[mike_c]

20. I'm an officer in my faculty union...

...and was our campus strike coordinator during the run up to a strike this fall, which was averted at the last minute by a contract settlement, so I've thought about this problem a lot. I recognize that we have colleagues who will cross the picket line for a variety of reasons, so of them admirable, some not so much. My philosophy for dealing with this was to maintain strict traffic control for campus access, and ask colleagues crossing the picket lines to join us, but to acknowledge their rights to cross the line if they wished-- just at a very slow and aggravating pace. We practiced traffic control at the CSU East Bay strike a year ago and while those wishing to cross the picket probably did so-- staff were explicitly told they MUST be at work, for example-- it took them a LONG time to get to the front of the line and make it onto campus. The traffic jams at each campus entrance were epic.

Ultimately, I was glad we settled, in part because I wasn't looking forward to dealing with the few colleagues I anticipated would insist on crossing the picket line. Like you, I think it's a dick move.

[Locut0s]

22. Hmm. Thanks for that perspective. nt.

[RagAss]

24. From the son of a teacher....

They're Fucking Scum !