Hayward Teachers Show How to Treat Scabs!

The title of this article is an embarrassment to all teachers. Is this a strike or a UFC fight? When the teachers union distributes flyers referring to subs as scabs, it's only a matter of time before a successful strike turns into a three-ring circus.

Big Bill Hayward's statement is inexcusable. Few people should condone this sort of misbehavior. Teachers are supposed to set a good example for their students, although it is understandable why they might be upset for seeing scabs crossing their picket lines.

Substitutes are not eligible for unemployment benefits if they don't work, but if they attempt to cross picket lines, they accused of being called "scabs", so they are in a no-win situation.

It hasn't helped that the HEA has largely kept the substitutes who normally work in their school district out of the information loop. It has not been helpful for the HEA leadership to indirectly threaten subs with the loss of assignments, if those subs are seen crossing the picket lines. However, most subs know intuitively what will happen if they do cross HEA picket lines, so they are staying away from the Hayward schools while this dispute simmers. However shameful it might have been for subs to cross picket lines, it is stupid, counterproductive, and unprofessional for any teacher to defend violence against people who are crossing their picket lines.

Like most subs, I am working in another district while both parties fight this out. Anyone who has ever taught or subbed in a district, like Oakland, while waiting for teachers and a school board to settle their differences, realizes how difficult the situation remains.

Hopefully, the two parties will resolve their differences during the spring break.

It is so Interesting how the teachers in Hayward have targeted the subs. In most all other districts in the country Substitutes are members in the teacher's union, but in Hayward the subs are not! In fact the subs have been trying to organize in order to create their own union. Where are the teachers in this fight for the subs?? Nowhere! Why have the subs been left out of the loop on this strike? Office workers, principals, and other school employees that are unable to strike have been left out of the "scab" catagory. They could lose their jobs if they really believed in the cause, take sick days or whatever, but no they have to work to feed their families and so do subs. Teachers deserve everything they are asking for, but what they should really be asking for is a recall of the school board members, not taking their frustrations out on the subs. I saw a group of protesters follow a sub to her house and scream at her the whole way home. How completely unprofessional and upsetting. Substitutes could never keep a district going and in fact enrollment is extremely low, the teachers are proving their point! But to harrass subs who are coming to schools to take care of students whose parents either can't afford to either find babysitters or keep their children home is unacceptqable. The teachers say they care about the students, what about those students, what are they supposed to do be subjected to large class rooms in the cafeteria? That's fair? The teachers need to know that the residents in Hayward voted in the school board twice. These same members who had already virtually depleted funds from the district buying out bad contracts and such. That has nothing to do with the subs who are trying to come in, help educate the children, make a living and go home. As educators of our future leaders what example are we setting for our children? That if you don't agree with someone's decision, harass and terrorize them?

What the fuck?!

Teachers aren't members of the working class anymore? Since when?

Ever hear about class consciousness? That's what you should be teaching these kids. Otherwise, they'll only face benefitless, extremely low-waged Walmartized service industry jobs -- the few McJobs that don't get sent overseas to exploit our working class sisters and brother in low-wage countries like China. If they see teachers act like militant workers, they'll learn that all of us need to practice working class solidarity again -- and on an international level, with those Chinese workers too. Remember when your grandparents used to have a loyalty to fellow working class people? Some of us wouldn't have had things like the Wagner Act, the weekend, health insurance, etc. if workers hadn't been mobilized, in the depth of the depression, to occupy their factories in places like Atlanta, Flint, Detroit and Akron. You know what they did to scabs and cops? A fucking hell of a lot more militant than the "shove" in Hayward. The person who did it is my working class hero. I'll buy them a beer -- hell, a night's worth -- if I ever meet them. I'm proud that there are still working class people with guts.

My Kentucky coal-miner's-daughter grandmother would kick your ass for berating anyone for attacking a scab. WHAT SIDE ARE YOU ON? Talk your class-collaborationist crap in Harlan County and you won't live to regret it.

For Labor History in the Bay Area, the high point of struggles was 1946 in Oakland when 130,000 people in the East Bay participated in a general strike in solidarity with, mostly women, retail clerks at two downtown department stores. If you even thought of crossing a picket line, these middle-aged women would do whatever necessary to stop you. It was beautiful and it breaks my heart that you passive wimps have so little awareness, class consciousness or ideas of solidarity that you'd criticize someone confronting scabs.

Scum like you would easily scab yourself and and spew your lame excuse of "caring about the kids." Bullshit, the teachers on the picket lines have kids too. A scab is a scab, regardless if they're a sub or not. And management, like principals, are the class enemy. Why are you even bringing this class collaborationist bullshit up?

And some teachers! Ever hear of Jack London? At age 15, he once worked at an Oakland cannery for 36-straight hours. No wonder he was loyal to the working class and had this to say about scabs:

After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, and the vampire, he had some awful substance left with which he made a scab.

A scab is a two-legged animal with a corkscrew soul, a water brain, a combination backbone of jelly and glue.

Where others have hearts, he carries a tumor of rotten principles.

When a scab comes down the street, men turn their backs and angels weep in heaven, and the devil shuts the gates of hell to keep him out.

No man (or woman) has a right to scab so long as there is a pool of water to drown his carcass in, or a rope long enough to hang his body with.

Judas was a gentleman compared with a scab. For betraying his master, he had character enough to hang himself. A scab has not.

Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage.

Judas sold his Savior for thirty pieces of silver.

Benedict Arnold sold his country for a promise of a commision in the british army.

The scab sells his birthright, country, his wife, his children and his fellowmen for an unfulfilled promise from his employer.

Esau was a traitor to himself; Judas was a traitor to his God; Benedict Arnold was a traitor to his country.

A scab is a traitor to his God, his country, his family and his class.

Author --- Jack London (1876-1916)

NO SCABS!

The lie that a teacher assulted or pushed a sub has been spread by the news media. It is simply not true. How do I know? I was there. The truth is that although the teachers outside of Palma Ceia Elementary were very vocal about their position not one was violent or laid hands on any sub.

The sub actually nudged a Mt Eden High School teacher with his vehicle before he got out and verbally attacked the teachers. As he tried to reach the teacher he had hit and get him for "touching his car", he shoved me out of the way. (the first push on his part) As other teachers intervened the sub grew increasinly agressive. He shouted "I'm 66" in the face of another who responded "I'm 62, what's your point". The sub responded by putting his hands around the neck of this 62 year old teacher. A few other teachers stepped in and told the man to get back in his car. He did return to his car and drove onto campus.

Vigil reported to the news that the sub was allowed to go home because he was so emotionally shook up. THe truth? The teachers demanded that that this violent agressive man be sent home and not left to supervise small children.

The truth is that the district does not know who many of these subs are and are scraping the barrel for any warm body willing to sell their soul for $300. If you think that crossing a picket line should be easy you should continue your education and thank a teaher for it.

It is truly disgusting and depressing to hear the ignorant and jealous meentally ill blather about the need for teachers to show respect and dignity to the scab/subs who are trying to break the union and support the district! HUSD and their corrupt leader Dale Vigil continue to cry about the lack of any possibility to pay the teachers. Here are the facts: over the last 6 years HUSD has received over 22% in cost of living adjustments. How much have the teachers received? Just 6% over the same 6 years! In orther words, every year HUSD recieves a new higher level of funding and aguments this funding by taking salary from teachers salaries! The teachers of HUSD are some of the lowest paid in the East Bay Area. If I taught in Fremont, I would make nearly 1/3 more!!The result? Experienced teachers leave for districts that pay more, or pay health benefits. That's right, for the privilage of teaching in HUSD I get to pay 1500 a month for Kaiser, dental and vision coverage!! HUSD can not attract even credentialed teachers, not to mention experienced teachers. This year at Mt. Eden High School there were three lower fulll time math positions- 9 classes, without teachers that were staffed by daily substitutes for months!!!! Then when the schools post lower test scores, you lying mentally ill hypocrits take your children to another school district. If the people of Hayward want better schools and higher test scores, recall the clueless School Board, toss the gangster Vigil out and support the teachers!

As I walked the line on Thursday and Friday, my fellow teachers and I were joined by some of our regular subs. They support us! They understand the true challenges we face daily in the classroom and they would never think to cross the line. Subs who cross the line do not have the students in mind, only their own pocketbooks. One of our loyal subs put it best as he stated, “I’m a substitute, not a prostitute”. He refused to sell himself as a warm body to baby-sit in a crisis.

We all have bills to pay. $300 is not an excuse to cross a line and keep others from being able to cover their Kaiser premium. The subs they have are not true educators who would be supported by their peers. They are separate and selfish. They are the few.

Someone wrote: "In most all other districts in the country Substitutes are members in the teacher's union, but in Hayward the subs are not! In fact the subs have been trying to organize in order to create their own union."

What country is this you are talking about? I am not aware of any school district where substitute teachers are members of a union (with the exception of course of substitute teachers who are also working part-time as teachers and are thus union members in that role).

I spent two years substitute teaching nearly full-time, and I could understand why substitute teachers might want to be part of a collective bargaining unit -- usually that would mean being included in the teacher's union -- but I am not aware of any district where subs are part of a separate union.

In many districts, a "long-term" sub (in a single classroom for more than 30 days) must be paid like a regular teacher (to prevent districts from trying to save money by using subs instead of regular teachers) and I assume that would include joining the regular teacher's union.

Very few subs are willing to work during a strike, simply because they don't want to jeapordize their relationships with the teachers they work with. And subs also recognize that no matter what a district's staff claims during a strike, they will NOT get preferred treatment after the strike, and more likely will be used less frequently as the district works to restore normal relations with teachers.

The only subs working now are those who either desparately need the money (and I can understand that, though I don't think even $300 per day is worth the aggravation), those who honestly believe that the strike is wrong (I haven't met one yet), and those who want to be present to protect students who do attend school (for whatever reason, though most commonly because the parents have no options for supervising their children during a strike, or because parents have foolishly accepted the district's false claims that there are lesson plans and there will be genuine instruction by subs).

Regarding this specific incident, I was amused to see Dr. Vigil repeat in every interview that he's confident that the "shoving" was not done by a Hayward teacher; it sounds to me as if he is trying to avoid a grievance or lawsuit arising from the false assault claim.

I wouldn't cross the picket line as a sub, but if I am loyal to the teachers union, I expect the teachers union to support substitutes efforts to unionize themselves. I don't think that is too much to ask.

In the Hayward Unified School District, the regular substitutes have formed their own union through American Federation of Teachers. This AFT Hayward substitutes union was just officially begun this school year, which is why many people do not know about it. It's a very recent development.

The last I heard from their union president (April 6), about 90 of the regular 120 subs have joined the substitutes union. They have made a statement that they are supporting our strike & have asked their members not to cross our picket lines. Almost all these union subs have honored our strike & not crossed the lines.

Regarding the temporary substitutes hired by the district for this labor action, it's hard to feel sympathetic for their financial situation when one steps out of a shiny newer model Lexus. Yes, I saw this myself.

Beyond that, the $300 they are earning per day is more than many of our new teachers make & for far less work. "Real" teachers develop & design curriculum, "real" teachers teach lessons, "real" teachers assess learning & assign grades, "real" teachers form relationships with students' families. That is "real" service to students & their community, not showing up for a few hours of glorified babysitting using makeshift teaching materials, with little connection to the state standards or required curriculum. And any substitute who claims it is otherwise is operating under delusion.

I am a sub working the strike. And it is awful. I'm trying my hardest as are other subs. We're doing our jobs. We're teaching. But I have been on the receiving end of a torrent of verbal abuse. And on Friday the Sixth I was followed for three blocks while being verbaly bombarded by teachers, students and parents. I had an orange thrown at me. Then when ariving to my car something was then thrown at it. That same day another sub was hit on his back by a picket sign and an assistant administrator had something thrown at her and was pushed.
So maybe one sub attacked first like you say. But many of the of us have done nothing and are are being delt daily abuse.
It is not justified to point so much agression towards the substitutes nor is it conducive to teaching good behavior to children who look to you for guidance. I had symphy for the teachers union until I realized that they're more imature than the kids they teach.

I have my serious doubts that many people posting on the site can make any claim to be "real teachers." The level of vitriol, much misguided against substitutes, and the downright unprofessional manner of many teachers is an appalling eye opener to me.
Bill Hayward, whoever he is, is obvious a joke and not worth the few words it takes to call him what he is, so I'll keep my anger and dissappointment aimed at those teachers who have proven themselves to fall short of what a teacher's conduct should be.
I realize that many simply have grievences with the district- that's fine. Many have chosen not to blame the subs, so they have my appreciation and respect.
Think of the example you've set for these kids, who shouldn't be caught in the middle of anything, particularly all this. I've noticed their composure and maturity conflicts with the selfish, shrill, and childish behavior displayed by many teachers.
Many of you should be ashamed, some praised for your integrity, and some like Hayward Bill should have their asses kicked.

You scabs are disgusting. First you pretend like what you're doing isn't wage labor and somehow you're *above* other working class people, and then you preach your class collaborationist fascism and brag how you're going to kick my ass!

Tell you what Rex Bell or Tom Frank: talk to me on the picket line tomorrow. I'll be there with the sign saying "Don't Scab" with a picture of a parasitic rat on it.

All your lame excuses about caring about the kids don't do anything to appease your cowardly betrayal of your fellow workers. And it's not just teachers you're betraying, it's every working person who has no other choice but to punch a clock whether at a school, a WalMart or in an office in a garment sweatshop or in the fields of the Central Valley -- or across the seas doing the same work in places like China.

Working class solidarity -- teachers, parents, students and all workers in the community standing up with them -- will win this strike.

Victory to the Hayward teachers!

This is an amazing site - someone told me about it. I'm just a resident onlooker, not involved in the schools or the strike. What I get here (and other sites, including the UNION website) is pure viciousness toward subs who choose to work. So, 20 percent of kids went to school, and the subs, for what ever reason, were there to help. Maybe some of them did just babysit. Did anybody think that the parents of some of these kids couldn't afford to keep their kids home? Did any body think that maybe some of the parents disagree with the teachers? The Hayward schools not only reflect the administration, but the quality of teachers as well, and from what I see, a big problem lies with the conduct, maturity, honesty and integrity of the teachers themselves. I saw some of the intimidation of subs first hand, and I'm real glad I have no kids being taught by some of these "teachers"

The amount of misinformation regarding the strike is amazing. It is true that the Hayward subs attempted to form their own union. However, they were forced to attempt this, because the HEA declined to support the subs, few of whom crossed the HEA picket lines. As far as efforts to form their own union, that effort was effectively blocked by the district, so the notion that the subs actually have their own union and have the means to protect themselves from HEA and district administration actions is untrue. Subs were placed between a rock and a hard place. In fact, because the district hired so many subs in anticipation of the strike, it has been quite difficult to get the 50% plus to obtain certification by the PERB. Moreover, the HEA has shown little but contempt for the subs within the district before, during, and after the strike.

Those subs who did not cross the HEA picket lines did not cross those lines primarily because we understood based on veiled threats from the HEA leadership, that there would be retaliation from HEA against subs who crossed their lines.

Big Bill forgot that subs also have to earn a living and had the HEA leadership bothered to communicate a bit more closely with the subs who have been attempting to form their own union, there might have been even few subs who accidentally crossed the HEA picket lines. Most of the scabs came from outside the district.