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AM Brew - November 28, 2022
Here's What's Brewing Today
Monday, November 28, 2022
We hope you enjoyed the Holiday weekend. We are thankful and grateful for all the organizing and rallying you’ve done to get us to a tentative agreement.
The WTU negotiating team will provide details in a Member Town Hall on Tuesday, November 29 at 4:30PM. The tentative agreement includes a 12.5% raise over 4 years though FY 2023, 4% retention bonus for all teachers, increase in ‘teacher startup funds,’ 2 morning blocks reserved for teacher lead planning, and additional bonuses for teachers in hard to fill positions.
Member Town Hall - Tuesday, November 29 @ 4:30
Meeting ID: 930 4869 7561
Passcode: 797288
Dial in: 301-715-8592
WTU in the news
- Statement from Mayor Bowser, Chancellor Ferebee, and WTU President Pogue Lyons on Tentative Contract Agreement
- Tentative contract agreement reached to provide DC teachers raises - WUSA
- D.C. reaches long-awaited deal with teachers union - The Washington Post
- D.C. School Teachers, Mayor Bowser Reach Tentative Deal – Washington Informer
- DCPS and Washington Teachers' Union reach tentative contract agreement - Axios
- DCPS reaches tentative contract agreement with teachers' union after 3 years - WJLA
- DC Public Schools reaches tentative agreement with teachers' union - FOX
- After Three-Year Impasse, D.C. Public Schools Reach Tentative Agreement With Teachers’ Union - DCist
- Parents Rally Behind DCPS Teachers in Demand for Better Conditions – Washington Informer
- D.C. public school teachers walk out in frustration, no new contract since 2019 – AFRO News
The WTU is deeply concerned about gun violence in our community
Akira Wilson fatally shot at NoMa's Hilton Garden Inn on Saturday - The Washington Post
Teen shot near annual Turkey Bowl in Northeast DC
Open Positions
Looking for a new position? Check out the November listings of instructional and non-instructional vacancies posted here: https://www.wtulocal6.net/open_positions
AM Brew News and Notices will be archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.
Read more
The Washington Post: D.C. reaches long-awaited deal with teachers union
After more than three years with out a contract, the District has reached a tentative agreement with its teachers union that would give the educators a retroactive raise and a salary hike for next year, officials announced Wednesday. Read the Full Story Here.
DCist News Reports: After Three-Year Impasse, D.C. Public Schools Reach Tentative Agreement With Teachers’ Union
After more than three years of stalled negotiations, D.C. Public Schools have reached a tentative contract agreement with the Washington Teachers’ Union, according to a statement from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Wednesday.
“Today, we are proud to reach an agreement that delivers robust back pay in recognition of the tireless efforts and sacrifice our teachers have made over the past three years,” reads Bowser’s statement on the agreement, which spells out a 12 percent increase in salary over four years, and a four percent retention bonus. “This agreement provides our educators with competitive raises that will help the District to retain and attract the best talent for our schools.”
Fox News: DC Public Schools reaches tentative agreement with teachers' union
Fox News reported on tweets released by the WTU and published the joint statement signed by Mayor Bowser, DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee, and WTU President Jacqueline Pogue Lyons on Tuesday. Read the full story here.
DCPS and Washington Teachers' Union reach tentative contract agreement
Axios News reported on the tentative contract reached by DCPS and the WTU.
D.C. public schools and the Washington Teachers’ Union say they have reached a tentative contract agreement more than three years after the union’s previous contract lapsed.
Why it matters: The two sides have been locked in a bitter fight over the new contract since October 2019, leading to an independent arbitrator taking over the negotiations last month.
Read moreThe WTU and DCPS Reach a Tentative Agreement after three years of negotiations!
GOOD NEWS!!
We put in the work! We didn't let up -- and it paid off! After three tough years of negotiation, a tentative agreement was reached between the WTU and DCPS. The WTU won:
- a 12% salary increase over four years that includes all retros and 4% this year
- an additional 4% signing bonus
- all benefits included and paid for
- significant increase in administrative premiums
...and that's not all!
Details on the tentative agreement will be released soon. All WTU members will have the ability to vote on whether or not to accept the offer. We'd like to thank the community groups who have supported us over the years as well as our tireless members. We couldn't have done it without you!
Read moreAllyson Criner Brown and Emily Roderer: What DCPS schools need to help students thrive — and to attract and keep teachers
What makes a great public school, where students can truly thrive, teachers want to teach, and parents want to send their kids? As parents of students who have attended three schools operated by DC Public Schools (DCPS), we have a pretty good — and informed — idea. It takes adequate funding, supports and resources to address the needs and challenges of each school’s student population. It takes a respectful culture that values and supports all staff in the building, all students, and their families.
AM Brew - November 21, 2022
Here's What's Brewing Today
Monday, November 21, 2022
I am thankful and grateful to the entire WTU community for participating in the action last Thursday. It was truly a beautiful sight to see us all united in our efforts to get a contract. Although the city leaders are listening and we are back at the negotiating table, we do not have a contract yet. Please help us keep putting pressure on the Mayor and DCPS leadership over the coming weeks. Your voice matters!
I hope that you are able to take some time for yourself this Thanksgiving break you truly deserve it. There was an article published last week, ‘Teachers Experienced More Anxiety than Healthcare Workers During the Pandemic,’ we know this is true. Please be careful as you travel this holiday weekend. COVID is still with us and other respiratory viruses are circulating widely. Please take care of yourself and your loved ones.
Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
TEACHERS DESERVE A FAIR CONTRACT
We’re bent on keeping the pressure on until we receive a FAIR contract! To see interviews of participants, visit WTU’s Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or FaceBook sites. Please retweet, forward, and retweet again!
Upcoming Events. Details coming soon.
- Town Hall Week of November 28th
- Holiday Go-Go for Education, December 16th
Also, we need your photos/videos! They serve as priceless reminders of how determined we remain in getting a FAIR contract. You can see our efforts in the pictures compiled on the Photos_2022 page of the WTU website here. If you’ve taken photos and video you don’t see pictured, please take a moment to email them to [email protected].
Contact your Building Rep or Field Representative for more information about on-going contract negotiations. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ANY ACTIVITY YOU PARTICIPATE IN TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE YOUR TOUR OF DUTY. DCPS is watching!
WTU in the news
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Brenda Douyon’s class in the Kidspost - November Class of KidsPost: Garrison Elementary in Washington, D.C. - The Washington Post
- DCPS teachers walkout over contract, building standards | wusa9.com
- 'Overlooked and overdue.' Parents demand DCPS renovate 100-year-old Whittier Elementary | WJLA
- There’s ‘An End in Sight’ for the Lengthy Contract Fight Between DCPS and the Teachers’ Union. But Plenty of Bad Blood Remains. - Washington City Paper
- D.C. Teachers March For New Contract As Union Bargaining Resumes
KC Boyd winner of Excellence in Equity 2022
Excellence in Equity 2022 | The Winners | Equity & Access Pre K-12 | The American Consortium for Equity in Education (ace-ed.org). Recognizing the companies, leaders, authors, and educators whose tremendous efforts are helping schools achieve equity everywhere
DCPS in the news
- D.C. Gets Federal Funds To Help Homeless Students. But Many Schools In Need Are Shortchanged
- D.C. gets federal funds to help homeless students. But many schools in need are shortchanged (wamu.org)
Field Trip Guidance
Earlier this month DCPS released new guidelines on field trips. The administration in your school is responsible for checking the driver’s license of the bus driver.
- Click here for information on how to check credentials.
- Click here for a Day-of Field Trip Checklist.
Open Positions
Looking for a new position? Check out the November listings of instructional and non-instructional vacancies posted here: https://www.wtulocal6.net/open_positions
AM Brew News and Notices will be archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.
Read more
D.C. Teachers March For New Contract As Union Bargaining Resumes
In a November 18th news story, DCist reported D.C. teachers held demonstrations at at least five schools across the city after school on Thursday, continuing their push for a contract after their last one expired in 2019.
At one school, they chanted slogans like, “Support your teachers, support your students,” and waved signs that declared “FAIR CONTRACT NOW!” and “GOOD WORKING CONDITIONS = GOOD LEARNING CONDITIONS.”
Read moreThere’s ‘An End in Sight’ for the Lengthy Contract Fight Between DCPS and the Teachers’ Union. But Plenty of Bad Blood Remains
On November 17th, the same day WTU teachers plan to rally around each of their respective schools in DCPS @3:30, the Washington City Paper published an article in hope of a resolution to the ongoing dispute.
The last time D.C. had an up-to-date contract with its biggest teachers’ union, the Washington Nationals had yet to win a World Series, Lizzo’s first single was still topping the charts, and hardly anyone had ever heard of COVID-19. The two sides have been negotiating ever since, with a resolution to this saga now increasingly likely to stretch into a fourth year of debate.
The Washington Teachers’ Union and D.C. Public Schools have been fighting over a new collective bargaining agreement for so long that an independent arbitrator took over the matter late last month, setting up an end game for a dispute that has defined education politics in the District since the last contract expired in October 2019.
Read moreAM Brew - November 14, 2022
Here's What's Brewing Today
Monday, November 14, 2022
November Representative Assembly
The November Rep Assembly meeting is on Tuesday, November 15th at 4:30. All members are encouraged to attend. Building Representatives and Delegates to the Representative Assembly can participate.
Dial: 301-715-8592; Meeting ID: 98080484945; Passcode: 546066
TEACHERS DESERVE A FAIR CONTRACT
NEXT CONTRACT ACTION - Thursday, November 17, 3:30 or after your contractual day
We'd like all teachers to leave school together and march around your school or congregate in an area, take and tweet group pictures or email them to [email protected]. Wear your WTU t-shirt. Please encourage, parents, students and other community members to march with you in solidarity! Please participate - these actions make a difference. A flyer is available here.
Please click here to register, to let us know that you’ll be participating: https://mobilize.us/s/Ht5jWD
Contact your Building Rep or Field Representative for more information about on-going contract negotiations. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ANY ACTIVITY YOU PARTICIPATE IN TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE YOUR TOUR OF DUTY. DCPS is watching!
WTU In the News
DC News Now - Petition for fair teacher contract delivered to Mayor’s office
WTOP - ‘Stop playing games’ — DC mayor, teachers’ union remain at odds as contract talks reach arbitration
Accuracy in Academia - D.C. public schools’ woes continue as teachers lack contract for third straight year
Surveys
Heads up, the DCPS teacher Insight Survey is now open. An email was sent your email. DCPS Instructional Superintendents and the Chief of Schools will be looking at the data. The email would've come from the Insight Team ([email protected]).
EmpowerEd is asking for your help in filling out a 10 minute survey on flexible scheduling for educators and teacher retention. As you may already know, DC has the highest teacher turnover rate in the country and the pandemic has made this crisis worse. So many careers that teachers are qualified to move into pay at least as much if not more and are now significantly more flexible- so we're pushing hard to get the city leaders to invest in flexible teacher scheduling and other retention strategies. We need to hear from you.
AM Brew News and Notices will be archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.
Read more
'Worst I've seen it': DC teachers call on Bowser for contract as arbitration nears
On Thursday, Nov. 3, WTU teachers chanted in front of DCPS Central Office D.C. for Mayor Muriel Bowser to settle a contract for DC Teachers after not having one for three years.
“This is my 34th year,” said Tina Bradshaw Smith, a high school teacher. “This is the worst I have ever seen it.”
Bradshaw Smith says her school is overcrowded, and some days they have to move and borrow desks and chairs.