February 11, 2011Egypt Revolution 2011 Victory!

Jan 25 - Feb 11 (11-2-2011)

February 11, 2011

Governor Scott Walker introduces the Budget Repair Bill to state workers:

Walker's Email to State Workers

Inspired by the Egyptians, I rush home after work….

Inside sources allowed me to post protest information as they were being

organized

We Are WI Event: “We Are WI” contacted me to create and run the official facebook invite to what was the largest Madison protest with an est. 150,000 people

Think Globally, Act Locally…

At work, I called for the first and several other union meetings:

Sent: Mon 2/14/2011 8:09 AMGreetings Colleagues,

I'd like to call for an interested-teacher meeting, after school at 2:50pm in room 327 to discuss actions we can take and to discuss the state-wide actions taking place this week.

I have some information to give regarding rallies and events, but I hope our union reps could also speak on this matter.

That evening, several of us decided to call in the next day to go to Madison—we got our hands on a phone tree and called our entire staff that night. 35 teachers from our school were out of the building the next day; we were one of only about 3 MPS schools who had a significant number of teachers out on Tuesday.

WEAC’S Call to Action Email Sent: Wed 2/16/2011 6:38 PM

• WEAC has now issued the following statement:

"Governor Walker will not negotiate.

WEAC President Mary Bell and Executive Director Dan Burkhalter have called on our members and all citizens of Wisconsin to come to Madison for Thursday and Friday to go to the Capitol for peaceful demonstrations. If you can't walk up to the Capitol, get as far as you can and sit down.

Everyone must look deep into their hearts and make their choice in this matter. Those members who can't possibly make it should ask that their places of worship open and pray for the citizens of Wisconsin and the people who have gone to the peaceful demonstration. Those who can't make it are not scabs. They are asked to support those who go to Madison.

Money is not the issue anymore. This is about basic human rights. This is about the right to negotiate and come to peaceful, mutual decisions about wages, hours, and working conditions. This is about the right to form a union.

More information will be given out through WEAC Channels. Mary Bell and Dan will have an announcement soon. Please communicate with your members as soon as possible."

MTEA has ASSURED that there WILL BE NO DISCIPLINARY ACTION TAKEN AGAINST ANYONE who calls in--no letters in files, no dock pay. We need 2000 phone calls tonight.

Consequences…

Dear MPS Staff, First and foremost, I want to thank you, our valued MPS employees.All across our district this morning we are seeing the majority of our staff in

place, and at work. All schools are open. We are able to continue instruction in classrooms.

We sent a message out overnight asserting to our employees that we expected them at work. We had to state that failure to report would leave an employee open to disciplinary action. At the same time, the leadership of our largest union was talking about demonstrations in Madison, and saying that its workers should “act based on their conscience”. I will suggest that this is exactly what you, our valued staff, did. You listened to your conscience and came to work. I appreciate your commitment to our children and to the work they do. I believe our students’ families would join me in thanking our employees.

We must continue this focus throughout this week, into next week and beyond. It is important that we provide the resources on which our children and their families depend.

Dr. Gregory E. ThorntonSuperintendent

My response…

Mr. Thronton,With all due respect, it appears to me that you and the rest of central office is acquiescing to the Great Union Bust of '11.I'm terribly disappointed in your response.Thank you,Amy Daroszeski

Bringing parents on board

• Organized a meeting with school board president, parents, and staff to address budget-concerns.

• This led to a 2nd meeting when we received more information, along with more board members and an alderman.

• Out of this meeting, several committees for the upcoming year were formed:– IB Fundraising Committee & Rufus King Foundation (501) – Transportation Committee– Diversity Outreach Committee– Rufus King Teachers/Leadership Communication

Committee

Teacher Grade-In Amy M. posted New Jersey’s teacher-action on

Facebook and I hopped on board to help organize.

Other Actions…

• Dear Gov. Walker,

• This is What Public Education Looks Like (zine)

Queer Workers Against Scott Walker

Milwaukee Pride Parade in June