UPDATE...Judge issues temporary restraining order in Tacoma strike

[rsmith6621]

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/129817838.html

TACOMA, Wash. -- A Pierce County judge has issued a temporary restraining order against Tacoma teachers Wednesday morning, but its effect on the strike is unclear.

Judge Bryan Chushkoff said he will hold another hearing in two weeks to consider an injunction against he union.

Confusion reigned in the courtroom over whether the order applied to just union leaders or all teachers. The judge ordered a short recess to clarify the ruling.

Outside, picketers stretched from the schools to the Pierce County Courthouse where the Tacoma School District had asked the judge to rule the strike was illegal and asked Chushkoff to force educators back to work.

Right now 28,000 students are out of class, and the bargaining has taken a nasty turn.

"I think any judge that's going to force an injunction needs to understand that he's very quickly going to be voted out of office," said teacher Brent Gaspaire.

The district says the teachers are still under an extended contract and need to honor it.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

1. This and prior posts indicate that the strike will be treated as illegal

Gaspaire can make all the implied threats he wants, but unless the law is changed the union, its leaders, and even individual teachers could be hit with ruinous fines, jail or both.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

2. Can the NLRB step in and restore sanity?

This is serious. If the teachers cannot use their rights they, well, lose their rights. If they use their rights they can be held in contempt of court.

[BanzaiBonnie]

3. If unions don't stand together now, all will fall

One by one they'll all be taken out. Time for a general strike?