Glad you enjoyed the CWW article! And wow - I had no idea strikes are illegal up there! Good luck with the school and the teachers... I know it's not always easy.
Yeah I have mixed feelings about unions because of my one personal experience with them.
The teacher's union didn't deal nicely with us adjuncts when I was teaching. They sprang union dues on us as mandatory-- well into the semester and I hadn't budgeted for it-- and if we didn't want to join the union we had the option of giving money to them anyway in the form of a non-union fee, which I never quite understood. There was no real explanation of how the union was working for my interests, no personal contact from a human being, just a form letter. Maybe someone dropped the ball and I was supposed to have been filled in at the time of my hire, I don't know. I just know that at the time it felt like a bomb had been dropped in my lap by the union. It wasn't a huge amount of money. I'm sure the union people felt it was a just amount and that I could afford it. BUT I was living on the pittance of a part time adjunct salary, below poverty wages, and at the time it felt like a massive injustice that they wanted to take a cut of my pittance. It cut into my small amount of luxuries. Thank goodness at the time I had roommates who would take me out for dinner and pay for my meal just because they didn't want to eat alone.
So I get why unions are historically important. And I most definitely support a living wage for special education workers. But... like you say, they're imperfect institutions and they're run by people who make mistakes.
Thank you for your true life account with that particular union. Both of my parents were union members. I have had mixed dealings myself. Your situation as a part-time adjunct sounds horrible and certainly did not make your situation any better. That’s the opposite of what a union is supposed to do.
Wow, this sounds incredibly stressful. No matter my feelings about unions, this is a very sad situation for everyone, especially students like your children. I hope things are resolved quickly!
Zina, thanks for this post. I hope this time in your family life will be a beautiful one despite the inevitable challenges... and a unique one. May we get our priorities straight as a society!
Thank you so much, Angela. I have been reading up on this so much. It is far most complex than I can depict in a short Substack. I tried to make it personal and meaningful.
My thoughts about unions are colored by the fact that my Hungarian immigrant grandfather was very much involved with the unions in Hollywood. He worked as a carpenter on movie sets. He even took his family to Russia, because he was idealistic about the claims for equality put forth by communism. But then, after they saw what it was like to actually live under communism, they packed up and came back home again. Without unions and without strikes, we wouldn’t have a 40 hour work week. People came together to get the power that they wouldn’t have individually. Then of course the union leaders became corrupt but that doesn’t make unions evil.
Yes, this kinda how I see things too because I think on the whole low wage workers are really easily exploited. However, I remember as a young teen helping a family member type out letters of complaint to the union she was a part of... but one of the problems was the union rep who was milking her position and since she was the rep there was not anything anyone could seem to do about her. It is a flawed system, but it was created for a good reason.
Thank you so much, Adam. After today’s negotiations the parties have not yet reached an agreement. I am hoping that something positive happens tomorrow.
As a child of union copper miners I feel biased toward the workers but I also understand the situation it creates for you and your family. I hope they reach an agreement soon.
Zina - wonderful article on the importance of education and teaching our children to value teachers. My mom, sister, and wife are all teachers so I have a special place in my heart for this issue. Take your time and focus on the priorities. All the best.
Thank you so much. Strikes and unions are such sensitive issues. I was afraid to write about this. I am glad there are people like you who understand how difficult this is for everyone involved. They’ve been without a contract for over a year. This was the last resort.
Powerful essay, Zina. Will restack.
Thank you so much, Mary <3 <3
Glad you enjoyed the CWW article! And wow - I had no idea strikes are illegal up there! Good luck with the school and the teachers... I know it's not always easy.
Striking in general is not illegal but in certain states it is illegal for vital services like police and firefighters to go on strike. Here is a little more information on teachers strikes in my neck of the woods: https://www.masslive.com/news/2024/02/heres-why-its-illegal-for-teachers-to-strike-in-massachusetts.html
Yeah I have mixed feelings about unions because of my one personal experience with them.
The teacher's union didn't deal nicely with us adjuncts when I was teaching. They sprang union dues on us as mandatory-- well into the semester and I hadn't budgeted for it-- and if we didn't want to join the union we had the option of giving money to them anyway in the form of a non-union fee, which I never quite understood. There was no real explanation of how the union was working for my interests, no personal contact from a human being, just a form letter. Maybe someone dropped the ball and I was supposed to have been filled in at the time of my hire, I don't know. I just know that at the time it felt like a bomb had been dropped in my lap by the union. It wasn't a huge amount of money. I'm sure the union people felt it was a just amount and that I could afford it. BUT I was living on the pittance of a part time adjunct salary, below poverty wages, and at the time it felt like a massive injustice that they wanted to take a cut of my pittance. It cut into my small amount of luxuries. Thank goodness at the time I had roommates who would take me out for dinner and pay for my meal just because they didn't want to eat alone.
So I get why unions are historically important. And I most definitely support a living wage for special education workers. But... like you say, they're imperfect institutions and they're run by people who make mistakes.
Thank you for your true life account with that particular union. Both of my parents were union members. I have had mixed dealings myself. Your situation as a part-time adjunct sounds horrible and certainly did not make your situation any better. That’s the opposite of what a union is supposed to do.
Wow, this sounds incredibly stressful. No matter my feelings about unions, this is a very sad situation for everyone, especially students like your children. I hope things are resolved quickly!
Thank you so much. Yes, it’s stressful. Looks like the strike is continuing tomorrow. 🙁
Sounds overwhelming! Take care of yourself.
Zina, thanks for this post. I hope this time in your family life will be a beautiful one despite the inevitable challenges... and a unique one. May we get our priorities straight as a society!
Thank you so much, Angela. I have been reading up on this so much. It is far most complex than I can depict in a short Substack. I tried to make it personal and meaningful.
You succeeded!
My thoughts about unions are colored by the fact that my Hungarian immigrant grandfather was very much involved with the unions in Hollywood. He worked as a carpenter on movie sets. He even took his family to Russia, because he was idealistic about the claims for equality put forth by communism. But then, after they saw what it was like to actually live under communism, they packed up and came back home again. Without unions and without strikes, we wouldn’t have a 40 hour work week. People came together to get the power that they wouldn’t have individually. Then of course the union leaders became corrupt but that doesn’t make unions evil.
Yes, this kinda how I see things too because I think on the whole low wage workers are really easily exploited. However, I remember as a young teen helping a family member type out letters of complaint to the union she was a part of... but one of the problems was the union rep who was milking her position and since she was the rep there was not anything anyone could seem to do about her. It is a flawed system, but it was created for a good reason.
Good luck and Godspeed.
Thank you so much, Adam. After today’s negotiations the parties have not yet reached an agreement. I am hoping that something positive happens tomorrow.
As a child of union copper miners I feel biased toward the workers but I also understand the situation it creates for you and your family. I hope they reach an agreement soon.
Zina - wonderful article on the importance of education and teaching our children to value teachers. My mom, sister, and wife are all teachers so I have a special place in my heart for this issue. Take your time and focus on the priorities. All the best.
Thank you so much. Strikes and unions are such sensitive issues. I was afraid to write about this. I am glad there are people like you who understand how difficult this is for everyone involved. They’ve been without a contract for over a year. This was the last resort.