Friday, March 10th
BTU Contract Walk-In Toolkit
It is time for a fair contract now, our contract negotiations are soon approaching the one year mark, and,
unfortunately, the process has stalled. Following the March 8th International Women’s Day actions, the
BTU is calling on members to walk-in to advocate for a fair and equitable contract for our 76% female
workforce. It is time that we send a strong message to the district that ​equity and equal rights means A
Fair Contract Now!​ Join in solidarity with your union brothers and sisters and we call for a fair contract
NOW!
We are asking BTU members and allies to gather outside of school 20-30 minutes before the beginning of
the school day on ​Friday, March 10th​ as a Sticker Friday and Walk-In/Visibility action. Coming together
helps us to build solidarity as we continue to advance our goal of achieving a contract settlement that is
good for schools and students and fair to our members.
Please remember to upload pictures to our website: ​www.btu.org/​contractnow
And use social media to tweet and share @btu66 #ContractNow #ADayWithoutWomen
Change your profile pictures on social media to the “​76% Women Equity= A Fair Contract
NOW!​” logo on March 10 and wear blue/BTU swag!
It continues to be important for ALL of our schools to take part in these non-disruptive​ d​emonstrations
of teachers standing up for what they believe in, and to continue to advocate for what is fair for our
members and our students.
This “toolkit” will help you to plan a “walk-In” at your school. You will find:
● Template for a flyer to members
● Making a Plan for a Walk-In
● A Sample Program and Schedule
● Suggested Chants
We will have posters at the BTU, however we strongly encourage members to make
personalized signs at your school sites. Organize a sign making party prior to the event or
host one the morning of!
If you need support or have questions, please contact a member of the BTU Organizing Team:
Jessica Tang, ​[email protected]​ 617-650-0632, Shanika Houlder, ​[email protected]​ 857-271-6064,
Jonathan Rodrigues, ​[email protected]​ 857-271-6063
Walk-In March 10, 2017
To Advocate for Equity through a Fair Contract
On Friday, March 10th, join your fellow BTU members, parents and community allies as we mobilize in Boston
to send a powerful message that enough is enough and that our majority female workforce will not let up until
we are treated fairly and granted an equitable contract Now! We continue to grow our movement with every
action, and this contract action will be no different. On March 10th, we will stand up and fight back for a fair
contract Now!
What are Walk-Ins?
During walk-ins, parents, educators and students, along with media members and other invited guests, gather
in front of their school 20-30 minutes before the school schedule begins. They rally and listen to a few
speakers discuss what they want for the school, and then everyone walks into the school together. Walk-ins
can be used to celebrate your school, collaborate with school officials, or protest harmful school conditions
and policies. ​Public employees in MA are not legally allowed to strike, so actions such as these are our way
of getting our voice heard.
Walk-ins are positive actions​ that show lawmakers and school officials that these are ​our schools, our
professions and ​our communities. They build solidarity among our members and allies as they feel the power
of collective action without risking retaliation. Walk-ins build relationships. Walk-ins build power. Walk-ins
build hope.
On June March 10th, our walk-ins will convey a similar message:
Parents, students, educators and community members are walking in to advocate for public schools that are
good for students, and fair to union members​. We deserves a Fair Contract Now!
Will you join us? On Friday, March 10th we will be advocating for:
● A Fair Contract
● Women’s Rights
For more information, check out ​www.btu.org/Contractnow
Location:
Time:
Making a Plan for the March 10​th​ Walk-In
The power of the walk-in comes from educators, parents, students and community members all walking-In to
school together. That means working together from the start to plan the walk-in. Use the steps and questions
below to guide your planning for the walk-in on March 10th.
Contact j​ [email protected]​ or visit ​www.btu.org/contractnow f​ or more resources.
1. Organize a school-site meeting(s) with educators, parents and community members to plan
the walk-in:
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Identify the goal for the walk-in.
Choose themes and the message.
Develop an outreach plan that includes member-to-member conversations.
Create the March 10​th​ program and schedule (see sample provided).
Develop the overall turnout plan, remind and confirm people who said “yes” or “maybe”.
2. Recruit union members at each school:
● Call a work-site meeting and announce the walk-in.
● Put fliers on the school bulletin board and in educators’ mailboxes.
● Through one-on-one conversations, ask members to attend the action and sign commitment
cards.
● Sign members up to help plan the event and delegate roles for outreach.
● Enlist support from former or retired educators who may still have close ties to the school.
3. Recruit parents, community members and students:
● Reach out to your parent/student school-based organization leadership. (i.e. parent and
student councils.) Ask each educator to personally invite 5 parents to be a part of the walk-in.
● Involve the front office staff, since they often interact with visitors more frequently and may be
able to share a flyer or provide details about the walk-in.
● Engage school volunteers. Invite them to help plan the walk-in and ask them to circulate
information to their friends and families.
● Think about other groups that are connected to the school, like the Boys and Girls Club, Kiwanis
Club, etc., and contact them to explain the event and enlist their support.
● Leaflet before and after school hours with fliers and either sign-up sheets or commitment
cards.
● Spread the word during school-sponsored activities, like athletic events, open houses,
performances and cultural nights.
4. Think about the actual program for March 10th:
● Identify speakers for the walk-in. Make sure they include representative voices from students,
parents, educators and other community members.
● How can the walk-in become more newsworthy? Are there any mascots, local celebrities or
elected officials that could attract media?
i. If you need help in attracting media, let us know
● What presentations can help make the day a success? Is there a report, student-inspired
artwork or a music group that can generate excitement or emphasize your message?
● Are there additional needs like coffee, donuts or a sign-making station?
● Who’s responsible for photography, social media, helping reporters, etc.?
● Make sure you have sign-in sheets so you can stay in touch with everyone who attends.
5. Post- March 10th Steps:
● Send thank-you notes to all walk-in participants and organizers.
● Collect turnout numbers, photos and media clips to send to ​[email protected]​ and we will compile
them to share with media and on our website.
● Assess what worked well, what could be improved, and key lessons for future event plans.
Sample Program and Schedule for March 10th
On March 10th, you want everything to go smoothly and to ensure that educators and students get to school on time.
We’re walking into schools to ​support the teachers, students and our public schools, not to disrupt them!
Most groups will meet at the school site, while others may gather nearby and march to the school together. Think
through what you will need at each location: Signs at the beginning and coffee at the end? Be sure to pad your
schedule with a few extra minutes—we don’t want anyone to be late to the classroom. This sample program offers an
idea of how you might plan the schedule for your walk-in. Check out the videos on ​www.reclaimourschools.org​ to see
what a walk-in looks like.
WALK-IN SCHEDULE
6:45 a.m. Planning team arrives at your designated meet-up place(s) to unload signs, sign-up sheets, coffee, etc.
(You may want two teams—one at the meet-up place, and one waiting at the school.)
7 a.m.
Participants arrive. Wave signs as cars drive up; chant, sing, etc.
7:15 a.m.
If marching or walking a few blocks to the school, the group hits the road!
7:30 a.m. Gather everyone for a short program in front of the school.
● Keep the number of speakers to a ​max of 4 people who represent parents, staff, students and/or community
organizations. Each speaker gets ​2 minutes or less to deliver a prepared message or demand.
● Here’s a ​sample program:
Speaker #1: Greeting. This is why we’re here today!
Speaker #2: Our Message. For the schools all our students deserve, we need …
Speaker #3: Our Campaign. Our fight doesn’t end today! Next steps, and why we need you!
Speaker #4: Thank you for coming, and don’t forget [start turnout work for the next event in your
campaign. Be sure to ask everyone to sign up to help!]
7:45 a.m.
Everyone walks into school and sings or chants a final message.
7:50 a.m.
Everyone goes to work!
Schools Our Community Deserves – Chant Sheet 2016
Chant Master: ​Hey Hey, Ho Ho
All: ​This old contract has got to go!
Chant master: ​What do we want?
All: ​Equity
Chant Master: ​When do we want it?
All: ​Now!
Chant Master: ​What do we want?
All: ​A Fair Contract!
Chant Master: ​When do we want it?
All: ​Now!
Chant master: ​We’re BTU women, we’re loud!
All: ​We’re Organized and we’re proud!
Chant master: ​Women united will never be defeated!
All: ​Women united will never be defeated!
All: ​BTU​ ​United Will Never be Divided!
Chant master: ​No Education No What?
All: ​No Education No Life!
Chant master: ​We Gonna Fight for Our What?
All: ​We Gonna fight for our Rights!
All: ​Get up! Get Down!
Boston is a union town!
Chant Master: ​Wanna know what all the fuss is?
All: ​We’re standing up for justice!
Chant master: ​Everywhere we go
All: ​Everywhere we go
Chant master: ​People wanna know
All: ​People wanna know
Chant master: ​Who we are
All: ​Who we are
Chant master: ​So we Tell Them
All: ​So we Tell Them
Chant master: ​WE are the teachers, parents and students
All: ​We are the teachers, parents and students
Chant master: ​The Mighty Mighty teachers, parents and
students
All: ​The Mighty Mighty teachers, parents and students
All: ​Fighting for Justice
Chant master: ​And an Education
All: ​And an Education
Chant Leader: ​When BTU is under attack, what do
we do?!
Crowd: ​Stand up! Fight Back!
Chant Leader: ​What do we do?
Crowd: ​Stand up! Fight Back!
All: ​Stop with this hypocrisy​, ​Labor IS Democracy!
All: ​Women’s Rights are Worker’s Rights!
Chant Leader: ​They say cut back! We say fight back!
Crowd​: Fight back!
Chant Leader: ​Cut back!?
Crowd: ​Fight back! (x 2)d
Chant Leader​: Budget Cuts means!?
Crowd: ​We got to fight back!
Chant Leader​: School closings means!?
Crowd: ​We got to fight back!
Chant Leader: ​Losing teachers means!?
Crowd: ​We got to fight back!
Chant Leader: ​School takeovers means!?
Crowd:​ We got to fight back!
Chant Leader: ​We got to fight back!
Crowd: ​We got to fight back!
Chant Leader: ​BTU is under attack, you got my
back!?
Crowd: ​I got your back!
Chant Leader: ​You got my back!?
Crowd: ​I got your back!
Chant master: ​No Women No What?
All: ​No Women No Life!
Chant master: ​We Gonna Fight for Our What?
All: ​We Gonna fight for our Rights!
Chant master: ​SOS
All: ​Save Our Schools!
All: ​We’re Fired Up, Won’t Take It No More!
Chant Master: ​Hey BPS, we’re no Fools
All: ​Fully fund our schools!