Union Educators Hold Socially-Distanced State House Rally for Safe & Healthy Schools
AFT Massachusetts, BTU, MTA Call for Remote Start Until It’s Safe
BOSTON – With the rallying cry ‘We Want to Go Back! But #OnlyWhenItsSafe,’ hundreds of educators from across the Commonwealth gathered outside the State House to call on Governor Baker to agree that the school year should open remotely and only phase in in-person learning when health and safety standards are met.
“Evidence that opening too quickly can lead to a surge in new coronavirus cases is mounting,” said Massachusetts Teachers Association President Merrie Najimy. “Our members are longing to get back to in-person teaching and learning, and students are longing to see their educators and friends in person. But our greatest obligation as educators is to protect the health and safety of our students as we educate them. Our greatest obligation as a union is to keep our educators out of imminent danger. It’s reckless of the Governor and school districts not to put commonsense safety measures in place before we bring students and staff back into our buildings.”
Hundreds of members of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts, and the Boston Teachers Union formed a socially-distanced chain in front of the State House, connected by caution tape, to symbolize the need for reopening plans that protect the health and lives of students, families, and educators. At the same time, a car caravan drove around the building, the car windows covered with signs reading ‘Only When It’s Safe,’ ‘Safe School Restart,’ and other slogans. In observation of CDC guidelines, participants remained 6+ feet distanced and wore masks throughout the event.
While last Friday was the deadline for districts to file their reopening plans with the state, these plans have yet to be negotiated with local educator unions. Many are bargaining for a remote start to the year and a phased-in use of in-person learning, because so many educators have health and safety concerns that have not been adequately addressed by Governor Baker’s guidance, state regulations or district plans.
“Our schools need adequate funding from the federal and state governments. We are calling on the Governor and our state government to mandate key safety precautions so that we and our students can return to school,” said Boston Teachers Union President Jessica Tang. “Thoughtful reopening guidance and plans should be informed by union educators, families, and community partners. This includes passing vital legislation like the HEROES Act and disbursing the funds from the Student Opportunities Act. With limited time and resources, we should be focused on improving remote learning first as we plan for a safe, phased-in introduction of in-person teaching and learning later in the year when and if it is appropriate to do so.”
During the event, educators called for school districts to begin the year with remote learning, and only phase-in in-person learning once health and safety standards are met. The unions specifically identified several key health and safety standards that still need to be met in order for schools to return to safe in-person learning:
Community transmission of COVID-19 must be under control in the region.
Schools buildings must have adequate air circulation and ventilation systems to prevent airborne transmission of the coronavirus.
Free, rapid, and reliable on-site COVID-19 testing and contact tracing must be available to students, educators, and staff.
“Educators have been demanding that the state and school districts meet these safety criteria for months, because we are determined not to put our students or ourselves at unnecessary risk by returning to unsafe buildings. We know our students, we know the state of our school buildings, and we know without a doubt that an in-person return to schools, without adequate precautions, will lead to our students’ parents, grandparents, and educators dying or becoming seriously ill,” said AFT Massachusetts President Beth Kontos. “We shouldn’t have to be here protesting to protect the health of our students and colleagues. We should be using the month of August to working with our local school teams to redesign remote learning so that it works for all students. Rather than pushing schools to reopen prematurely, the state and districts should be focused on the work that is needed to allow a safe return to the classroom: tamping down community transmission of the virus, upgrading ventilation systems, and ramping up rapid testing and contact tracing.”
In addition to the State House rally, educators rallied across the state with socially-distanced standouts at multiple locations in Western Massachusetts and on Cape Cod.
The MTA represents 110,000 members in close to 400 local associations throughout Massachusetts. We are teachers, faculty, professional staff and education support professionals working at public schools, colleges and universities across Massachusetts.
The AFT Massachusetts represents more than 23,000 public school employees, higher education faculty and staff, and public librarians.
The Boston Teachers Union proudly represents more than 10,000 teachers and other professionals including school nurses, psychologists, guidance counselors, paraprofessionals, and substitute teachers.