Thread by @freespiritus

1/ This is the section of the LRB that the @bctf needs to enact in order to protect #bced.

Some claim they cannot do it as members have not created motions to do so; however, the Executive decided to go to the LRB unilaterally in Sept and without motions. They can do it again.

2/ There is a threshold that they need to prove is being met so that they can withdraw services and it not be considered a strike.

There are loads of ways they can do provide the evidence.

#bced #bcpoli

3/

✅Survey staff and collect data about working conditions.
✅Challenge the science — the WHO, CDC, & Health Canada all recognize COVID is aerosolized but @CDCofBC his not changed it’s guidance for #bced. All other business were required to update their plans to include masks.

4/
✅Use the precedence from the SARS inquiry which stated that when there is a new virus, the precautionary principle must be used. The precautionary principle is not being used in #bced.

Laila Yule’s post from MARCH, does a great job explaining.
lailayuile.com/2020/03/31/les…

5/ Only the @bctf can apply to the LRB to have services withdrawn as they are the only body recognized as the bargaining agent for teachers.

-If the Executive will not apply to the LRB to withdraw services, then the RA must create motions that require them to.

#bced #bcpoli

6/ RA should also direct them to seek medical & legal advice that reviews COVID science.

-the @CDCofBC in not mitigating for asymptomatic spread and children are most often asymptomatic. This leaves schools particularly vulnerable.
-they are not testing asymptomatic kids. #bced

7/ The @CDCofBC is also clearly manipulating data to fit a narrative. There are clear examples in VCH and FH where there have been outbreaks but Health Authorities deliberately don’t call them. Members have stories and see what is happening—survey needs to collect data.

#bced

8/ According to Standard 1 of Teacher Regulations:

“Educators have a privileged position of Power and Trust. Educators are responsible for the physical and emotional safety of all students.”

All #bced Suprs, Admin & BCTF exec have Teaching Certificates.

www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/ed…

9/ This is a reminder to all that the @bcliberals changed the process as to how a complaint is made to the Teacher Regulation Branch. We need a certificate to do our job.

This is meant to act as a caution. We are ALL vulnerable because of the changes that were made.

#bced

10/ Teachers want #bced to stay open but the +ivity rate is too high in VCH & FH.

We need to lower the rate & provide new guidelines.

We need to use the precautionary principle. Masks, HVAC upgrade, MERV 13 Filters, smaller classes.

We are not safe. ethics.harvard.edu/files/center-f…

11/ ✅Post-Covid symptoms can be brought to LRB too.

Children and adults alike are experiencing devastating long-term health complications to their hearts, lungs, brains.

COVID can cause death for the unhealthy but lasts a long time for the healthy— months and years.

#bced

12/ This letter, written by a parent, uses incomplete data scraped off BCCDC website. It shows the discrepancies.

Please download and send to your school trustees, MLAs, School District, etc and ask for action. Ask for precautionary principle to be used.

drive.google.com/file/d/10LNQkz…

13/ Many of the outspoken in #bced are doing so because we have read all the science. We know what is coming next. We want to be able to say that we have done absolutely everything we could have possibly done. For me, the prospect of a generation living with post-covid scares me.

14/ theguardian.com/world/2020/jul… #bced #bcpoli

15/ bloomberg.com/opinion/articl… #bced #bcpoli

16/ medicalxpress.com/news/2020-09-p… #bced #bcpoli

17/ sciencealert.com/mysterious-pos… #bced #bcpoli

18/ amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/08/10… #bced #bcpoli

19/ nbcnews.com/health/health-… #bced #bcpoli

20/ LRB can also look at fact there are no guidelines for how 1500 students can eat together safely. Restaurants have strict guidelines to keep people safe. None of those guidelines apply to #bced. Students eat in halls, which everyone is supposed to wear a mask. Aerosols travel.

21/ Another point for the LRB — the current mask mandate applies to all indoor public spaces but not public schools.

How can public schools not be public spaces? There is no rationale for this, nor is there any science that justifies this ridiculous declaration. #bced

22/ Latest Study on Schools.

“Clear evidence that children and schools are at risk, with wider implications for the community. Additionally, serious outcomes in children will become increasingly common if the virus is allowed to spread.”

#bced #bcpoli

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.56…

*has not changed — typo

23/ Then there is the fact that many people are getting COVID-19 twice and statistics show that some people are getting it worse the second time and ending up hospitalized. This means we are not able to build natural immunity.

sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/m… #bced #bcpoli

24/ We are months away from two very successful vaccines being rolled out.

It does not make sense to continue with risking the lives of teachers & students since natural immunity is an impossibility.

Post-Covid complications are very real though. #bced
ctvnews.ca/health/coronav…

25/ The CDC says the virus can be aerosolized if there are certain conditions met. The conditions they describe are the same conditions that exist in schools:
1. Poor ventilation
2. Small Enclosed space
3. Lots of bodies for long periods of time.

cdc.gov/coronavirus/20… #bced

26/ Health Canada’s guidance on how COVID-19 is spread.

Like the CDC, it states that the virus can be spread through aerosols.

canada.ca/en/public-heal…

#bced #bcpoli