Where do you eat lunch?
Where teachers eat lunch is an easy question during normal times. Do you eat socially, in a teachers’ room? In a teachers’ cafeteria? Do you eat in an empty classroom? Do you bring lunch? Do you go outside? Buy something around the corner?
But in a pandemic, the equations change. None of the guidelines and rules I have seen – about teacher programs, safety, procedures, etc etc – none of them mention safety for adult meals – yet teachers are expected to remain in school buildings for 6 hours and 20 minutes.
How is staff lunch handled in your school? I am really curious. Leave me a comment, or an email. What I have heard makes me think that most schools are ok. But not all.
Does your principal demand you stay in the building? Talk to your Chapter Leader.
Is there a teachers’ room? Do you know the socially distanced capacity? Talk to your Chapter Leader.
Is there other space where you can eat socially distanced? Talk to your Chapter Leader.
I have heard about schools where each of these is an issue. Please do not “suck it up and deal with it” – your safety is important. Talk to the Chapter Leader if there is not a safe place to eat while maintaining proper social distancing.
The NYC Department of Education is your employer. You are their employee. It is their responsibility to keep their employees safe. By not even addressing employee safety they have been grossly negligent.
It is the Wild West out there. In “normal” times there are many schools where the union is unable to enforce the contract. And now? 1800 sets of norms in 1800 schools? But while it is hard, the stakes have never been higher. If something is wrong, go to your Chapter Leader. The issue may need to go to the District Rep, and even the Borough Rep.
The UFT leadership is dead wrong for not advocating for full remote – but they still have to protect their members – us. If there is a safety issue – including nowhere safe for staff to eat – report it!
JD2718 
I would like to add that once upon a time there were what we use to call teachers cafeterias. The teachers cafeteria was a great place to eat, talk with other staff members and get a nice meal hot or cold so convenient right in your building. Then MIchael Bloomberg came along and closed all teacher cafeterias in most schools and midget Mike said that the teacher cafeterias lose money therefore he was closing them down.
Food was lousy, but a space for teachers. I had some good conversation down there.
I eat socially isolate din my classroom when I get a moment to breathe
I so miss teacher cafeterias!
At my school we’re in a different building than the normal school. The admin is laid back about leaving the building. But there is a cafe area (just tables and chairs), but it is a nice area to have lunch. I always pack a lunch as it’s way cheaper!
Dumblasio strikes again….no money honey…..mulgrew wants to go to court but if city is forced now to pay us they will say UFT and teachers responsible for people losing their jobs because teachers wanted their bonuses….
Um, teachers aren’t looking for a “bonus” they are looking for deferred money they earned years ago. Big difference.