AFT, which represents about 1.7 million educators, is one of the largest teacher unions in the country.
“We have the road or the roadmap that allows us to” reopen schools, “Weingarten said, pointing to the CDC’s guidance and resources included in President Joe Biden’s coronavirus relief proposal, scheduled for a vote in Hill this week. “It comes down to three things: layered mitigation strategies, testing so that you can really see asymptomatic spread and vaccine prioritization.”
“Not that all teachers have to be vaccinated before schools reopen,” she continued, “but you must align this vaccination with reopening.”
Asked about the states that did a good job of reopening schools, Weingarten acknowledged: “There is no perfect solution.”
“But New York City did a great job in terms of showing the way,” she said. She also pointed to the District of Columbia, which she said “really made sure that all teachers and school staff who wanted the vaccine were vaccinated in the past few weeks,” as well as Oregon, West Virginia and Ohio.
Local unions have, in some cases, pushed for higher standards for reopening. California labor organizations left Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom so frustrated at a recent meeting that he said, “We can very well pack up and be honest with people that we’re not going to open for face-to-face classes this school year.”
Asked about the matter, Weingarten replied: “Teacher unions are not monolithic.”
“What you’re hearing is that people are scared,” she continued. “I think what we need to do is face the fear with the facts.”