Reply #1: the support that teachers recieved today on the picket line [View All]

[iemitsu]

was awesome.
here is an edited version of today's e-mail report i sent to my mother:
today all the strikers walked at central. *spouse* and i arrived at about 6:15 am and there were already about 100 strikers there. by 8:00 the numbers had dramatically grown. i think there were over 3000 people surrounding CAB. we walked four or five abreast and completely surrounded the two whole blocks where central and its annexes sit (the blocks are longer than the residential blocks in tacoma but about as deep). about 9:00 a massive number of students arrived chanting "we love our teachers" they bought their band instruments and played rousing marching tunes for us. some teachers joined in the impromptu band. businesses and families provided coffee, drinks and snacks (and moral support). two local churches opened their parking lots and doors, and provided refreshments and facilities for the strikers. at one point someone on the fourth floor of cab leaned out and shouted support. she was dragged in and the window was closed. a few minutes later she reemerged waving a white flag. i hope she is not targeted for her support.
the union made a new offer to the district yesterday but they have not responded (even though the judge ordered them to return to the table). today they went to court again. we heard rumors that we might be fined $ every day we were out. but that was not determined today. i know that the superintendent was disappointed as his auto-call, closing schools monday, described today's hearing as a hollow victory (i think this is because there were no fines levied). the district has not even considered the new offer from the union and appears to think that they can win through the courts. the governor has even told them they had to return to the table.
i hope this is over soon but i fear it may not be. i believe the real goal is to break the union.