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A Message from WTU President
Good Morning WTU Members,
Last Tuesday, December 12th, WTU had its first in-person bargaining session for a new contract with DCPS. In a dismaying show of disrespect, not one District of Columbia Public Schools official, including Chancellor Lewis Ferebee, showed up at the first bargaining session for the new Washington Teachers’ Union contract. The two city officials who attended on Tuesday had little knowledge of the conditions necessary for teachers to teach and students to learn, instead focusing on managerial rights. Ironically, less than 24 hours before our meeting the mayor was able to find $500 million for an 11th hour deal to keep two D.C. sports teams in the city, saying it would be an ‘invaluable investment.’ Yet, the WTU team was told the city is out of money. A reporter from the Washington Informer covered the story here.
It’s time for the city to see D.C. students as invaluable investments, and that can start with the Chancellor and other DCPS officials joining the WTU at the bargaining table to discuss safety and violence issues, class sizes and other issues that will improve the teaching and learning in our schools! Thank you to the teachers who came out to cheer on the WTU team as they entered the Negotiations Center! Help us to continue to communicate this urgency by signing WTU’s petition on school safety and encouraging family and friends to sign it throughout the holiday break.
Thank you to the many members who joined us for our annual holiday party on Friday! Celebrating the holiday season with our current and retired members was what made “ A Party that Sleighs,” slay! Thank you to all the Executive Board members who came out along with DC city officials, Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn, Ward 7 Representative and President of the State Board for Education Eboni-Rose Thompson, President of the Metropolitan Washington Labor Council, AFL-CIO Dyana Forester, AFSCME President Robert Alston, and Director of OLRCB Lindsey Maxwell. Photos from our holiday party will continue to be uploaded to WTU’s website throughout the week and can be found here. Please continue to follow us on social media for video recaps and select holiday photos.
Please note that the WTU’s office will be closed from Friday, December 22th, 25th, 26th, 29th and Monday, January 1st. so that our staff can spend time with their families through the holidays. Please expect to see the next edition of the Morning Brew on Tuesday, January 2nd. Thank you, as always, for your support! May you have a safe and relaxing holiday season.
In solidarity,
Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union
Weekly Update - WTU’s Contract Action Team
Watch the December 12th Contract Negotiating Teams’ weekly update here or click on photo above. All other updates from CAT can be viewed on the playlist here.
Please share our petition for safe schools! We also need your beautiful photos wearing red on Fridays! Email photos to [email protected] or text them to 202-957-1782.
Calling all Special Ed Educators & Related Service Providers!
We hear you! The WTU would like special education teachers & RSP to complete this survey in order for us to better support you. All names will remain confidential, but it will help to have your phone number if we need additional information.
Upcoming Events, Activities & Meetings
- December 18th: OSSE-sponsored Listening Sessions on New Financial Literacy Standards @5PM, Registration Required
In the News
- 12/13/2023 – The Washington Informer – Washington Teachers Union, DCPS start new contract negotiations
- 12/12/2023 – WJLA Channel 7 News – DC Council sounds alarm as schools continue to see spike in chronic absenteeism
- 12/12/2023 – DC-ist – These DC Teens Make Art with ‘Gentrified Wood’ from Home Renovation Projects
- 12/11/23 – The Washington Post – A DC Teen lost two cousins to gun violence. Now she helps others
Professional Development and Other Opportunities
Membership Update
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