Update on the strike
So I know there has been a lot of… let’s say mixed communication around this and where things are at. I’ll tell you what I know.
Our union contract expired on Sunday evening, and our members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. Our bargaining committee has given the school a deadline of midnight tonight to make substantive progress towards our proposals, which they (so far) have not done.
We might even know by our class time (or during), if they have—but if they haven’t, a strike will begin tomorrow (Wednesday, 11/16).
What will that look like, for us?
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Class tonight might be a little weird! But let’s talk about it and how you are feeling; I recognize the uncertainty and its presence looming over us.
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If we are still on strike next week (11/22), I will not be teaching class—neither in-person or remote. Same goes for any weeks after that, as long as we are on strike.
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I will not be available for any (course-related) communication—in Slack, Zoom, Canvas, email. Again, this is as long as we are on strike. It is even possible I will no longer have access to these tools.
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You are still the best resource for each other—both for your work, but also for all your ideas, questions, and concerns. Talk to each other. You are all in this, together. It is your school. (Our Slack and this course site will still be available for you.)
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I will not be reviewing your assignments (project entries) or offering any help/feedback—but you can continue with them, in my absence. I hope we will still be able to review your final presentations, together, on December 6.
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This will not negatively impact your grades, credits, graduation, visas, or scholarships. As much as this is up to me, with regards to this class, you will not be penalized in any way for this strike.
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I will be on the picket line! (Tomorrow morning, and likely right around/before our class times in the future.) And you are welcome to join me and your other instructors. We’d love to see you.
Know that I don’t like any of this, either. I would prefer not to go on strike, and I know that this sentiment is shared strongly by my colleagues (your other instructors). But our teaching conditions are your learning conditions—and we don’t think they are sustainable, as it stands.
I am hoping that we are all back together, soon.
Here are some links, with more information:
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New School part-time faculty to strike Wednesday if negotiations fail - The New School Free Press
In the school paper. -
University Student Senate Letter of Support
From your Student Senate. -
Strike FAQ for Students
From your Student-Faculty Solidarity group. -
ACT-UAW Local 7902 “Linktree”
From the union.
Harmonic Collection review?
If we’re up for it, let’s look at some of your entries:
Let’s take a little break here, as we do. Phew.
Simplified Jekyll?
We didn’t have time to go through this, last week! I prepped a simplified/pared-down Jekyll template you could use for your projects.
Or some Q/A?
Or, depending where we are with time (and how we are all feeling), we could unpack some Q/A topics:
For next week
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Cross your fingers.
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Complete your tenth Harmonic Collection entry and add it to our doc:
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If you haven’t yet, add topics (or vote) for our question/answer sessions:
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