MINNEAPOLIS — Striking members of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers voted over the weekend to ratify tentative agreements for new two-year contracts for teachers and for Educational Support Professionals, ending a strike that began March 8.
Under the terms of a negotiated return to work agreement, 4,500 teachers and ESPs returned to work today for a day of prep time before classes resume.
The Minneapolis Public Schools’ 28,500 students will return to classrooms tomorrow.
In voting results announced last night, the union reported:
• 76 percent of teachers voted to accept the tentative agreement for the teacher contract.
• 80 percent of ESPs voted to accept the tentative agreement for the ESP contract.
In a statement announcing the ratification votes, MFT said: “These historic agreements include significant wage increases for ESP and nation-leading protections for teachers of color, including exemptions from the excess and layoff process and more. In addition to improving our students’ learning conditions by adding more counselors, social workers, nurses, and specialists, this strike also helped set the conditions for significant change within MPS and how it approaches its work. Union leaders recognize that there is more work to do and this is just the beginning of turning around the Minneapolis Public Schools and are committed to continuing this work in the months and years to come.”
“We know we have historic wins,” said Greta Callahan, president of the MFT teacher chapter, in announcing the tentative agreements March 25. “We know we would not have been here without doing what we had to do….”
Results of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers contract ratification votes were announced by Greta Callahan, president of the MFT teacher chapter (left) and Shaun Laden, president of the MFT Educational Support Professionals chapter (right). Photo by Brad Sigal.
“A Vote For Me Is A Vote For You” (Tera McCarthy campaign slogan)
Hey, Tera McCarthy! Nice slogan you’ve got there. Be a shame if it was just empty, meaningless words because you already don’t practice what you put on your campaign signs.
We’ve got some questions for you, Tera. We’re going to ask them here so you can’t block us from your campaign page like you’ve done to other parents in the District who asked you things you didn’t want to answer.
Above screen shows that Tera McCarthy is banning North Fond du Lac parents from her campaign page. It has been confirmed that Kelly has at least two childrenwho are enrolled in the North Fond du Lac public school system.
Tera, you’ve talked about “giving power back to parents.” What powers don’t parents have?
The power to bully teachers and administrators?
The power to control how other people are allowed to raise and educate their kids to be more accepting than yours?
The power to censor books, curriculum, and classroom discussion by accusing people of anything you don’t like or understand and proclaim it to be about CRT or indoctrination?
Above Screen One Of Two: Tera McCarthy preaches to the choir about a children’s book that she knows nothing about. She proclaims the book to be ‘Critical Race Theory’ and makes the private post on the private FaceBook Group “Recipes For Freedom Fond du Lac County’“
Above Screen Two of Two: Tera McCarthy preaches to the choir about a children’s book that she knows nothing about. She proclaims the book to be ‘Critical Race Theory’ and makes the private post on the private FaceBook Group “Recipes For Freedom Fond du Lac County“
Tera McCarthy has simply been ‘groomed’ for a world that no longer exists and the questions continue
The power to call parents who affirm their children’s orientation and gender identity “groomers”?
The power to disrupt school operation to the point you’re escorted off campus by police and charged with disorderly conduct?
The power to refuse to comply with school policies and refuse all accommodations and alternatives because that would require effort on your part instead of everyone else bowing to your stubborn, ridiculous demands?
The power to film other people’s children without their knowledge or consent?
The power to dismiss the credentials and experience of other Board members through public, personal attacks?
The power to refuse to answer interview questions about your experience and credentials?
The power to build your platform around bragging about how untrained you are in public education and how inexperienced and unsuited you are at serving in public office?
Perhaps Tera McCarthy would be more informed if she wasn’t so busy colluding with well-known local racists who have threatened and attacked our community leaders and elders. Tera McCarthy was sending late night screenshots to the same people who have attacked democracy and our constitution through intimidation and violence.
Above Screen: If you look closely at the top of this screenshot you will see that it was Tera McCarthy who sent it to what many local observers claim is well known, local, and violent racist Darryn Shipton through FaceBook Messenger after Shipton bashed the only two Black people in the city of Fond du Lac who are running for public office.
Tera McCarthy’s minor daughter is currently bragging on TikTok that she has been expelled from Horace Mann High School and is facing zero consequences at home for this conduct. If Tera can’t even control her own children, how can she be expected to make logical choices for yours?
North Fond du Lac voters, you have a choice on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 to keep your children safe, respected, and welcomed at school. Tera McCarthy has shown she is unfit and uninterested in doing that.
Stand with Assange Saturday, April 2, 2022 at noon
Special Stand for Peace Corner of Brady St. and Farwell Ave. in Milwaukee, WI
Host: Ann Batiza (Assange Defense and Peace Action WI) and Music: James Oldenburg
Julian Assange is being prosecuted by those whose crimes he exposed. He published them with newspapers around the world. Press freedom is at stake! James Oldenburg (@jamxs) will debut his song for Julian Assange. After short presentations, please sing along with anti-war favorites like Blowin in the Wind before we march up and down Brady Street.
Signs will be provided, but please make your own as you wish.
This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday when British paratroopers opened fire on peaceful Catholic civil rights demonstrators in Derry, northern Ireland on January 30, 1972, killing 13 and injuring 18, one of whom later died.
April 4 also marks the 54th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King in 1968.
Dr. King had a tremendous influence on the civil rights movement in northern Ireland. On October 8, 1968 a group of activists inspired by Dr. King marched in Derry demanding an end to discrimination in housing. Like their counterparts in the U.S., marchers were brutally beaten by the Royal Ulster Constabulary. This is viewed by many as the beginning of the modern civil rights movement in that country.
Please join us in a presentation on the Irish struggle for liberation and the connection with Dr. King and Black liberation struggle. Paul Doherty from the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign and Ciara O’Connor, Project Coordinator at the Museum of Free Derry will be amongst those that will be speaking.
Our solidarity will be based on respect for a diversity of tactics and the plans of other groups.
The actions and tactics used will be organized to maintain a separation of time or space.
Any debates or criticisms will stay internal to the movement, avoiding any public or media denunciations of fellow activists and events.
We oppose any state repression of dissent, including surveillance, infiltration, disruption and violence. we agree not to assist law enforcement actions against activists and others.
The largest national defense budget in the world just got larger. Earlier this month, the United States Congress passed $728.5 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Defense for the 2022 fiscal year, a sharp 5% increase from the previous year. The budget contains a plan for $13.6 billion in aid to Ukraine for the Russia–Ukraine war.
On March 16, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the U.S. Congress, invoking everything from the September 11th attacks to Martin Luther King to plead for more U.S. military intervention. Following the address, President Biden announced an additional $800 million in Ukraine aid to come from the new defense budget.
Ukraine aid has received widespread bipartisan support among U.S. legislators in a Congress that is incapable of uniting around any domestic policy in a similar way. The House of Representatives passed the defense budget with a vote of 361-69, and the Senate passed the bill with a vote of 68-31. This decision comes from a Congress that is split down the middle between Republicans and Democrats, with Republicans in lockstep blocking Biden’s domestic relief and civil rights bills. Infamously, conservative Democrats Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema have played the role of the swing vote between the two parties, decidedly shooting down virtually all of Biden’s key progressive legislation.
“They got money for war, but can’t feed the poor”
Out of the $13.6 billion allocated for Ukraine aid, about half will go to replenishing the stocks of military supplies that the U.S. has already sent to Ukraine. The United States has been sending billions in military aid to Ukraine since the 2014 Euromaidan coup, taking the form of weapons, training, and intelligence. Some of those military resources have very possibly been used to attack the people of the Donbass region, even before the Russian military action.
Nuestras comunidades se están levantando! Acompáñenos a esta huelga de 2 días para demostrarle a los políticos y a las corporaciones que nuestra economía no puede funcionar sin nuestro trabajo. ¡Nuestro poder está en nuestra unidad!
**Domingo 1 de Mayo a las 11 a.m. en Milwaukee
Marcha desde las oficinas nuevas de Voces en 733 W. Historic Mitchell St hasta la oficina del Senador Ron Johnson
**Lunes, 2 de Mayo a las 11 a.m. en Madison en el Capitolio Estatal
Día de manifestación y cabildeo estatal para restaurar las licencias de conducir para inmigrantes
Debido a que el Congreso no ha pasado una reforma migratoria, hacemos el llamado al:
Presidente Biden a: -Abolir 287g -Poner fin a los centros de detención con fines de lucro -Respetar los derechos de los solicitantes de asilo -Dar Perdón presidencial para todos los inmigrantes – Expandir TPS
A los Republicanos de Wisconsin a: -Parar de bloquear las Licencias de conducir para todos – Parar de bloquear equidad matricularia para inmigrantes
A las familias trabajadoras de Wisconsin que se organicen para: -Quitar al Senador Ron Johnson de su puesto -Re-elegir al Gobernador Tony Evers
Our communities are rising up! Join us for an escalated 2 day strike to show politicians and corporations that our economy cannot run without our labor. Our power is in our unity!
**Sunday, May 1 at 11am march in Milwaukee
March from New Voces office at 733 W. Historic Mitchell St to Senator Ron Johnson’s office
**Monday, May 2 at 11am Lobby Day in Madison at State Capitol
Statewide Rally and State Lobby Day to restore state driver licenses for immigrants
In the absence of Congress passing immigration reform, we call on
President Biden to:
– Abolish 287g – End for-profit detention centers – Respect the rights of asylum seekers at our border – Presidential pardon for all immigrants -Expand Temporary Protected Status
Wisconsin Republicans to:
-Stop blocking Driver licenses for all! -Stop blocking in-state tuition equality for immigrants
Wisconsin working families to organize to:
– Vote out US Senator Ron Johnson – Re-elect Governor Tony Evers
March from New Voces office at 733 W. Historic Mitchell St to Senator Ron Johnson’s office
[English Below]
Nuestras comunidades se están levantando! Acompáñenos a esta huelga de 2 días para demostrarle a los políticos y a las corporaciones que nuestra economía no puede funcionar sin nuestro trabajo. ¡Nuestro poder está en nuestra unidad!
**Domingo 1 de Mayo a las 11 a.m. en Milwaukee
Marcha desde las oficinas nuevas de Voces en 733 W. Historic Mitchell St hasta la oficina del Senador Ron Johnson
**Lunes, 2 de Mayo a las 11 a.m. en Madison en el Capitolio Estatal
Día de manifestación y cabildeo estatal para restaurar las licencias de conducir para inmigrantes
Debido a que el Congreso no ha pasado una reforma migratoria, hacemos el llamado al:
Presidente Biden a: -Abolir 287g -Poner fin a los centros de detención con fines de lucro -Respetar los derechos de los solicitantes de asilo -Dar Perdón presidencial para todos los inmigrantes – Expandir TPS
A los Republicanos de Wisconsin a: -Parar de bloquear las Licencias de conducir para todos – Parar de bloquear equidad matricularia para inmigrantes
A las familias trabajadoras de Wisconsin que se organicen para: -Quitar al Senador Ron Johnson de su puesto -Re-elegir al Gobernador Tony Evers
Our communities are rising up! Join us for an escalated 2 day strike to show politicians and corporations that our economy cannot run without our labor. Our power is in our unity!
**Sunday, May 1 at 11am march in Milwaukee
March from New Voces office at 733 W. Historic Mitchell St to Senator Ron Johnson’s office
**Monday, May 2 at 11am Lobby Day in Madison at State Capitol
Statewide Rally and State Lobby Day to restore state driver licenses for immigrants
In the absence of Congress passing immigration reform, we call on
President Biden to:
– Abolish 287g – End for-profit detention centers – Respect the rights of asylum seekers at our border – Presidential pardon for all immigrants -Expand Temporary Protected Status
Wisconsin Republicans to:
-Stop blocking Driver licenses for all! -Stop blocking in-state tuition equality for immigrants
Wisconsin working families to organize to:
– Vote out US Senator Ron Johnson – Re-elect Governor Tony Evers
On March 31, Wayne County plans to end the moratorium on property tax foreclosures of occupied homes in Detroit. Join us in demanding that Wayne County Treasurer Eric Sabree extend the moratorium on owner-occupied homes and that he use the right of first refusal to allow tenants to purchase the home that they are renting.
Event: Press Conference & Rally Topic: Demand Immediate Moratorium on Property Tax Foreclosures Location: 400 Monroe, Wayne County Treasurer, Downtown Detroit Date: Wed. March 30, 2022, Noon-1:00pm Sponsors: Moratorium NOW! Coalition Contact: 313-671-3715
There will be a press conference and rally outside the Wayne County Treasurer’s Office on Wed. March 30 beginning at Noon to demand that Eric Sabree issue a moratorium on the impending threat to foreclose and seize thousands of owner-occupied homes.
For the two previous years of the pandemic there has been no property tax foreclosures in the county. There is no reasonable cause for the home seizures to resume when many households have not recovered from the economic and social impact of a public health crisis not witnessed in more than a century.
We are calling on the Wayne County Treasurer to stop the foreclosures; protect renters from evictions where taxes are delinquent; and to work towards a long-term plan to put an end to the housing property tax disaster which has been in existence for more than a decade-and-a-half.
A list of over 17,000 homes are being threatened with seizure. The problem is so severe that the Treasurer’s Office is not answering calls from the public seeking assistance. This is totally unacceptable. The only solution is to halt the foreclosures and work towards a sustainable solution.
Wisconsin Bail Out the People Movement 