Madison teachers are meeting right now to vote on continuing

[Sabriel]

They've already had one ballot that was too close to make a determination.

I believe they're doing another vote right now to decide if the blue flu continues.

No media are allowed at the meeting.

[elocs]

1. The teachers have called in sick or taken off to protest, they are not on strike.

Each of these teachers will do what they think is best for the situation. It's easy for outsiders to get all caught up in the entertainment value of the protests in Madison and the "rah-rah, go Cheeseheads!" but it's not their jobs or livelihoods that are on the line. It's easy to demand that others have the courage of your convictions or to do things the way you believe they should be done with the inference that if they do not they are somehow quitters or somebody has bought them off.

I live in Wisconsin and have been to local rallies and will try to go to Madison on Tuesday and frankly I trust the teachers to do what they believe is right no matter what. After all, they are the ones who are actually there in Madison and fighting the fight. Who am I to tell them what to do?

[coti]

2. Of course. But I also hope that the teachers are considering the national implications of their

decision.

This isn't supposed to be easy, but we have to win. The middle class has been under attack for decades, and it is culminating in this all-out blitzkrieg across all of our states. If anyone has a chance to beat this back, it is the people of Wisconsin.


That should all be considered.

[elocs]

5. I don't want to see WI teachers guilt tripped into making themselves sacrificial lambs

for some greater national cause. If I hear Wisconsin teachers claim they should stay out and risk losing their jobs, I can accept that. What I don't buy is those outsiders demanding they do this for some greater cause. It's easy to be noble and demand other people to make sacrifices when they don't impact you or your job.

[barbtries]

15. i agree with you

having said that, i hope they continue their action. along with many, many, many others.

[Critters2]

3. If they decide to go back to work, I do hope they can keep numbers up in the evenings

and weekends until the Governor gives up his power grab.

Solidarity forever!

[riderinthestorm]

4. I thought I read that it's illegal for them to strike

So to continue a "blue flu" walk out is pretty tough. We've already had hundreds of posts on the doctors that wrote notes for the teachers, I can't imagine the dilemma the teachers are facing.

[FBaggins]

9. This is NOT a strike. It's a political action.

A strike is when workers walk out specifically in protest over contract terms or poor treatment (etc)... the action is targeted at their employer. There are demands made of that employer. Yes, as public employees, the state legislature is in some small way their "employer", but certainly not for these purposes.

These folks are "petition(ing) the government for a redress of grievances". As such, it is not possible to make the action illegal.

The sacrifice they're making is twofold:
- potentially a loss of pay
- They're teachers. They really do care about the kids missing too many days of school.

[riderinthestorm]

12. I know it is. I pointed that out. I agree with you.

But that doesn't make it any easier for them to continue to protest.

[Sabriel]

6. UPDATE on decision

MTI just voted to stay out again tomorrow. They're going to take it one day at a time.

"Extremely close vote." Almost exactly split.

[riderinthestorm]

7. Tomorrow's a school holiday. Tuesday will be the cruncher. nt

[Sabriel]

8. Tomorrow is NOT a holiday

Madison schools were supposed to be open tomorrow.

[FBaggins]

10. It varies across the state apparently.

Some of their contracts include a day off for Presidents' Day, others don't.

On edit - Oops Sorry. I see by your OP that you're specifically thinking of Madison.

[shraby]

11. Here along Lake Michigan, we have some bad weather.

Lotsa snow, slippery kind. School probably would be called off anyway.

[riderinthestorm]

13. Oops! Sorry, I thought I read that there were school districts that were closed.

That meant there would be a contingent of teachers who weren't missing any days of school to keep protesting.

[TheMightyFavog]

19. The weather here is crappy, though.

Yucky sloppy weather that does not know whether it wants to snow, sleet, freezing rain or rain...

[barbtries]

14. i vote yes

that goddamn governor has not budged at all and he needs to be shown the way to a conversation.

[mzteris]

16. the whole damn state

needs to "strike" - or sick out - or whatever you want to call it.

and not just the teachers, either.

Everyone knows madison is blue, it's the rest of the state that needs to \get on the stick.

I don't care if my kid stays out the rest of the damn year! Walker should NOT get away with this!

[Poboy]

17. Shut the MOFO DOWN.

[Goblinmonger]

18. Couple problems with that.

The state union has asked that all teachers be back in the classroom on Monday as a sign of good faith to the public. Also, in less "blue" areas of the state, jobs will be much less stable if there is a sick out. My district has made that very clear. Our local union has worked it out so that a number of teachers can be gone to have a presence in Madison, but it's not that easy.

[mzteris]

24. I'm not talking "just teachers" . . .

I think ALL the "public unions" should walk out.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lonestarnot]

21. Any word yet?

[Abq_Sarah]

22. I found this

The vote was 741-731 to return Monday, but a later, more overwhelming vote to return Tuesday won the day.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/local_schools/article_d4bd62ac-3d3f-11e0-960d-001cc4c002e0.html

[lonestarnot]

23. Alrightie then!

Thanks.