Send questions to your union, employer and school board. Make it a daily habit. They need to represent all teachers and not discriminate. Get other teachers to do the same thing. Organize, organize, organize! Keep a list of other teachers that are in your district who are fighting for the same thing. Teach them how to take action. If the union or school board tell you there is nothing they can do, continue to demand answers to the questions. There is a lot they can do! Go to the other union board members and demands answers. Do NOT relent. If they tell you they need to check with NYSUT or the Superintendent, call them every day to find out if they got answers until they represent you. Do NOT back off. This is a serious situation for the whole country.
Here are some questions to help you get started that you may consider including:
Here are some questions to help you get started that you may consider including:
1. If a vaccinated teacher must wear a mask because the CDC says they can spread the virus, then why does a vaccinated teacher not need to be tested to see if they are spreading the virus.
2. Is it considered insubordination if I cannot attend a ‘testing time’ that is outside of the contractual school day?
3. Why are unvaccinated teachers not be represented in decision making?
4. Did the union negotiate Covid testing with the district?
5. How long will Covid testing requirements be in place? In other words, what goal needs to be met in order for testing to stop?
6. What official Randomized Controlled Trial is being used to prove the effectiveness of mandated Covid testing, in only unvaccinated individuals, for reducing hospitalization and death due to Covid in a school building?
7. If I am injured by testing or have a bad allergic reaction to testing, who is responsible for damages done to me?
8. Will the district or the union guarantee my safety if I choose to receive a vaccine?
9. What is the long-term safety data on the vaccines?
10. According to ScienceDirect-Toxicology Reports, Volume 8, 2021, pages 1665-1684, for every one death caused by Covid there are five deaths caused by the vaccines in the over age 65 cohort. If this is true, why should I take a vaccine? If this is not true, what is the correct number?
11. According to a study in CDC Weekly, Aug. 6, 2021, 70(31); 1059-1062, "Among the 469 cases in Massachusetts residents, 346 (74%) occurred in persons who were fully vaccinated." As a result of this study "CDC released recommendations that all persons, including those who are fully vaccinated, should wear masks in indoor public settings in areas where COVID-19 transmission is high or substantial." If vaccinated persons must wear masks to prevent spread, why are they not required to be tested to prevent spread?
12. According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor website "For many employees, undergoing COVID-19 testing may be compensable because the testing is necessary for them to perform their jobs safely and effectively during the pandemic." Will I be paid extra if Covid testing is outside of my contractual workday?
13. What is the exact name of the Covid test brand that we are required to use? What are the exact names of the chemicals used in these Covid tests?
14. What is the long-term safety data on repeated exposure to the chemicals in the required Covid tests?
15. As part of required Covid testing, is my DNA data being collected and/or shared?
16. What is the scientific data justifying differences in quarantine requirements for unvaccinated versus vaccinated individuals who are NOT sick but have been exposed to the virus?
17. How is Covid testing of only unvaccinated individuals a scientific safety measure when the CDC openly publishes data showing that vaccinated individuals account for a significant amount of virus transmission as well? Is this about safety or discrimination and bullying?
18. Many unvaccinated teachers are being bullied, persecuted, and insulted for their personal medical decisions. What measures are being taken in the district to address this?
19. If we are required to teach anti-bullying to our students and report all cases to the district under DASA, then why are we not doing the same for unvaccinated teachers that are being bullied and harassed for their personal medical decisions?
20. If a teacher is placed on leave because they do not participate in Covid testing, will they continue to be paid during the investigation?
21. What is the end goal of masking, testing, and vaccinating? In others words, what metric do we need to achieve to go back to normal in school? If you don't know then why aren't you fighting to get an answer?
