The president of New York City’s United Federation of Teachers threatened to lead a strike if the city fails to meet the pandemic safety demands listed by the union.
Federation President Michael Mulgrew announced on Wednesday that teachers may go on strike if a series of coronavirus safety measures are not put in place despite public sector strikes being illegal under New York’s “Taylor Law.” Mulgrew said he is willing to break the law and deal with the fallout in court at a later date.
“We have promised the teachers and parents of New York City that we would stand and fight if we feel a school is unsafe. If you open schools on Sept. 10, it might be one of the biggest debacles in the history of New York City,” Mulgrew said.
“We are prepared to go to court and take a job action. And if the court deems that we are breaking the Taylor Law, so be it. We will deal with the ramifications of it,” he added.
The union demanded that all students take a COVID-19 test or an antibody test to see if they have the coronavirus or recently recovered from the infection. It also demanded a sufficient supply of personal protective equipment and sanitizing products. Additionally, it requested that the union be able to inspect schools for compliance with safety protocols.
City Department of Education spokeswoman Miranda Barbot dismissed the union’s complaints.
“We spend hours a day, literally, talking to the UFT about policies and procedures and have delivered on a robust and practical testing protocol, a nurse in every building, and a 30-day supply of PPE for every school,” Barbot told the Wall Street Journal. “We have the most comprehensive and rigorous plan in the country, coupled with record-low infection rates. When we see a full plan that is rooted in data and science, we’ll review it.”
The New York City School District is the largest in the nation. The district is reopening under a hybrid model that has students receiving a mix of in-person instruction and online classes to allow for fewer students in each classroom. Parents were also given the option to have students attend online classes full time.
