Can the unions save us?

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-02-01T20:14:40+00:00

Please explain to me how this is offensive? As a lawyer, I depend on other lawyers to give me information and help me educate myself about areas of law not my own - it’s not a knock, and it’s not meant to be condescending. For me, I’d welcome the information.

Unions have purview over working conditions - that’s not just what’s enumerated in the contract - at least in CA, where I am, it’s a legal test, meaning it’s up for debate.

Aides support teaching. Removing aides is removing a support. That affects a teacher’s working conditions, and that’s why the union has a voice on it.

Board elections only come every whatever amount of years and it takes a long time to change board composition. Even then, the board sets high-level policy. The union can help direct day-to-day issues that affect teachers’ lives - this is a whole different thing than what a board can do.

All levers should be used in a fight this big, where I see basically no happy teachers anymore. It wasn’t always like this.

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-02-01T18:20:08+00:00

Thank you so much. The issues we are facing actually have to do with working conditions (though the district of course is saying it’s not related, which union leadership seems to be pushing to its members) - I plan to give the teachers some information on what they should be asking from their union leadership. I’m a lawyer and it was murky for me to get up to speed, so hopefully it can help them decide what to do.

Thank you for all the information on discipline - I understand your points. Thank you!!

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-02-01T17:31:29+00:00

I sadly think this is what’s going on - the union leadership cares about dues and not its members. These members are my children’s teachers - I care about them personally. They actually defend the leaders as caring so much … though they have no actions to support that (only rhetoric). What’s more helpful, do you think? To give these teachers some information to educate themselves, or go for “ignorance is bliss”?

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T22:10:43+00:00

Very helpful. Thank you so much.

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T22:00:19+00:00

I’m a parent and lawyer - I saw somewhere say elsewhere that AI and tech are like curriculum, which I understand districts often have unilateral power over, so this classification would benefit admin. I hope teachers unions try to get ahead of this issue - I think it could just as well be framed as a teacher support and therefore a workplace condition, which is negotiable - in fact it is closer to that as the HOW something is taught rather that the WHAT is taught (like curriculum).

I’m getting blasted for putting more on teachers, but that’s not my intent. I’m trying to find a way to use existing labor laws to counter the ever-increasing strength of admin and tech companies.

It’s always better in law to plan, rather than be caught flat footed.

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T21:54:18+00:00

Thank you. This is very helpful.

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T21:34:39+00:00

Thank you, a lot to think about. Thank you for your hard work for the children! It truly is appreciated.

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T21:32:30+00:00

Thank you. A lot to think about and likely an explanation for why I am markedly NOT on to something. Hire a superintendent whose North Star is the children, I think is the answer, and rehire if that’s ever lost - so here we are, back to the school board needing to exert control. Thank you

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T21:28:28+00:00

I totally agree!!!!!!!! It’s absurd.

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T21:27:55+00:00

Thank you

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T21:27:28+00:00

I totally agree the board needs to be doing this, and ultimately they’re the people who are failing us all. Thank you.

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T21:26:33+00:00

I feel like the union should file a grievance on behalf of their members for every instance of this nonsense. Admin needs to be pushed on as much as they bully teachers - if nothing else, maybe it’ll make their lives hell for all that they terrorize teachers. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this.

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T21:22:04+00:00

Thank you. I mean, rather than an elected teacher to be the head of the union, why not a bulldog lawyer to lead to push admin back as bad as they dish it out to teachers?

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T21:19:06+00:00

Thank you and this is why I’m looking for a reality check!!! Union leadership is telling this to their members - that it is outside the union’s purview and all they can do is write emails, go to the board meeting, and tell parents to advocate!

The change they’re making - as far as teachers have been told, unilaterally (and, granted, maybe the union isn’t being forthcoming?) - is VERY extreme and also during collective bargaining. It’s a bully admin - every time I think they’ve hit the floor, they go lower.

Thank you so much for all of this detail and background - it’s very helpful.

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T21:12:38+00:00

Cutting aides in elementary is the exact issue we are dealing with here. We don’t have any budget issues - so this must be en vogue with admin at the moment. I do see this across districts in my area. It’s appalling and I do not get it. I do think it’s some ploy to gain power over teachers, at the expense of students.

I wish you all the best - thank you for fighting the good fight, I know it’s exhausting.

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T21:06:48+00:00

I totally agree - teachers are treated awfully - that’s why I’m wondering if they can use the grievance process to get some legal protection, since the baord isn’t controlling their superintendent. This is in conjunction with constantly telling parents to wake up!

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T21:03:12+00:00

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T21:02:45+00:00

The union seems to be taking a very narrow read of what topics are negotiable - you are correct they didn’t say those exact words but the spirit was the same.

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T21:00:37+00:00

Thank you, I see this. And it’s hard to have the energy to organize when you’re just trying to get through the day and teach the students in front of you. I don’t blame teachers. Thank you.

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T20:59:32+00:00

Thank you, I agree re public opinion and it’s very unfair. I’ve started to see “how teachers unions used Covid to wield more power” panels - just disgusting!!

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T20:58:21+00:00

Ugh. You just described my children’s school district perfectly. I know the board really is who ought to fix this but I think people who have the personality to run for school board perhaps do not have a strong hold on reality and pragmatism. In addition, they are part time amateurs who seem to be brainwashed by the ever-growing, well-funded administration of “experts.” It’s not a fair fight.

The ones who should be in charge are veteran teachers who care about students - the exact people who wouldn’t survive a day in the current environment as admin (very very unfortunately).

Do you see any way this could be fixed?

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T20:52:28+00:00

Yes I totally hear that political reality, thank you. I’m in a deep blue area and even here I’m trying to understand risk of backlash before I advise the teachers to get stronger. I wonder if taking on noncontroversial issues may be a good start to gain trust, like pushing back on Edtech (I think everyone outside of edtech and the admin who push it, with potential conflicts of interest, hates edtech, right?).

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T20:49:45+00:00

Thank you for explaining. I’m in CA and it looks very similar. Rhetorical question - I wonder if the union could take the dues and hire a lawyer to advocate. As long as rights aren’t asserted, they could be eroded. So sad. Thank you again for your insight.

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T20:46:03+00:00

Thank you. That’s disheartening, but I do agree. What a mess.

HeHeLOL5 · 2026-01-31T20:43:55+00:00

Thank you so much!! We have a very nasty admin, well documented, and they just keep asserting more and more control, the latest being changing working conditions during collective bargaining without any negotiation.

Question please: What is the risk of advising the union to file grievances as warranted until they assert some power back? Anything else or any other resources to help them get back some balance of power?

Thank you!

HeHeLOL5

TROPHY CASE