The best strategy to end the pandemic is mandatory vaccinations for everyone, unless they have a medical condition that makes it in advisable. Until now, both major teachers’ unions refused to take a stand. Last Sunday on Meet the Press, Randi Weingarten endorsed mandatory vaccinations for teachers, but she must get the support of her members. She will. Now NEA has changed course.
The nation’s largest teachers’ union on Thursday offered its support to policies that would require all teachers to get vaccinated against Covid or submit to regular testing.
It is the latest in a rapid series of shifts that could make widespread vaccine requirements for teachers more likely as the highly contagious Delta variant spreads in the United States.
“It is clear that the vaccination of those eligible is one of the most effective ways to keep schools safe,” Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, said in a statement.
The announcement comes after Randi Weingarten, the powerful leader of the American Federation of Teachers, another major education union, signaled her strongest support yet for vaccine mandates on Sunday.
Ms. Pringle left open the possibility that teachers who are not vaccinated could receive regular testing instead, and added that local “employee input, including collective bargaining where applicable, is critical.”
Her union’s support for certain requirements is notable because it represents about three million members across the country, including in many rural and suburban districts where adults are less likely to be vaccinated. Overall, the union said, nearly 90 percent of its members report being fully vaccinated.
Still, any decision to require vaccination for teachers is likely to come at the local or state level. And even with their growing support, teachers’ unions have maintained that their local chapters should negotiate details.
“We believe that such vaccine requirements and accommodations are an appropriate, responsible, and necessary step,” Ms. Pringle said on Thursday. She added that “educators must have a voice in how vaccine requirements are implemented.”
California has ordered all teachers and staff members to provide proof of vaccination or face weekly testing, an order that applies to both public and private schools. Hawaii is requiring all state and county employees to be vaccinated or be tested, including public-school teachers. And Denver has said that city employees, including public school teachers, must be fully vaccinated by Sept. 30.
Why “or testing”?
Testimon(e)y minus testi equals money changing hands
no matter what…
Good question, Flerp!
Shouldn’t be “or.”
Use the facts, NEA, & vax.
Los Angeles Unified is maintaining mandatory weekly testing, vaccinated or not. Unlike California Governor Newsom, Los Angeles Unified is not being subjected by right wing extremists to a recall election, so we can do the right thing instead of trying to do some things right while walking on Republican eggshells. And that’s what Republicans have turned into, eggshells, thin shells, thin skinned shills. They whine so much about safety precautions, it’s like they all have such — what’s the phrase — oh yeah, bleeding hearts.
So in LAUSD, vaccinated students and staff must be tested each week for Covid?
FLERP!,
Google is your friend – from LAUSD website:
“All students and staff must have a baseline test within 14 days before they return to campuses and District facilities. Upon the start of the school year, periodic testing will be conducted. This periodic testing will be conducted during the school day by a mobile team; parents do not have to schedule those tests.”
Students who do not wish to participate in the COVID-19 testing program will not be permitted to return to school in-person, and may enroll in the District’s online independent study program offered through City of Angels.
Baseline and periodic testing will be required for all students and staff, regardless of vaccination status.
If a child is absent, the test can be rescheduled as soon as possible by visiting the Parent Portal…
Students and staff of independent charters may be included in the program if the charter school has elected to participate. Otherwise, charter schools will need conduct their own testing and health screening program.
Google is not your friend.
FLERP!,
Thank you for your thoughtful reply that helpfully provided the information that I had been seeking.
Good for the NEA, good for us all.