Throughout its history, UFT members have been distributing literature at UFT Delegate Assemblies in the lobbies of the buildings or hotels where they were being held. Since the UFT bought its own building at 52 Broadway, we have been using the lobby. Then at the Nov. 12 2015 DA they ordered us outside. I was handing out a MORE resolution for the meeting on I and others refused to move and challenged them to call the police to have us removed. Our dues pay for that building and we shall not be removed from our own property.
https://youtu.be/UBEbXZLnyHI
15 comments:
I was wondering how long it would take the "leadership" to start bouncing the opposition out of a building paid for by dues from the rank and file. If you think this is first Mafioso-like attitude and behavior from them especially since NA has joined MORE, wait until next year when the "leadership" will use every machinations possible to juke the election in one form or another. Just when I thought that the GOP's debate showed the level of insanity by those politicians. This video showed that the level of insanity keeps on going. Yesterday's video of their goon-style attack on you is showing their vindictive, underhanded, conniving, and desperate, yes desperate, attempt to continue their "successful failure" as a union leader.
from I noticed that...
Kudos to you, Marjorie and everyone else who stood their ground. What a mockery of democracy. If Mulgrew issued the original edict, he sure made his goons look stupid.
PD
I'm not sure who brought it up, but at the reception following the DA, Gloria from MORE told Mulgrew that this lobby situation was videotaped. Mulgrew said something like "Oh boy!" and rolled his eyes. I told him that Norm even thought he was going to be arrested. Mulgrew said, "No, No! That wouldn't happen." Not sure if he knew about it in advance but he obviously realized it was a BIG mistake!
Glad that Norm videotaped it for all to see. The guy with his hand in Norm's face should lose his UFT position. Big bully.
Maybe someone should tell Unity that the way to win elections is not by bullying members, squashing opposing views, and usurping democracy at every chance you get. The right way to win re-election is to do your job, represent and defend members, and stop selling members out so that they'll want to vote for you.
UFT Unity should be embarrassed by this and they owe Norm an apology. Thank you Norm, for standing your ground!
Mary Ahern
Although we have had our differences (still not sure what they are), good for you.
Thanks. One Unity wag stopped by to say that if you were president I would have to stand in New Jersey to give out lit.
I remember that it was LEROY BARR who tried to stop Megan and Peter and others from handing out Leftie lit in the lobby a few years ago, before Barr went from "goon squad leader" to a seat on the dais with The (self) Chosen!...a number of us argued forcibly (like you Norm and Marjorie, well done!) and he and his boys backed off...funny how you never know what role a quizzling will play until he/she is moved like a chesspiece for a "job well done"! Aside from The Loyalty Oath, it is a "given" that ambitious Unity fodder should be prepared to act as "heavies" at the DA's, as well as to take on any number of "support" roles elsewhere. My CL Sean and I were "shadowed" and pressured to be still at a DA where we dared to speak without being "called on"- a woman in a blazer who looked like hotel staff was the "enforcer". We told her to take a flying leap...Anyway, hope this video gets seen by lots of people! It is VERY revealing about UFT Leadership's fear and loathing of alternative, let alone diverse, opinion among rank-and-file membership...
...and your response to them was?
I would bring back the table with non-official UFT papers and allow for members to watch over so nothing is thrown out. Also thinking that maybe scanning and posting on UFT.org under a title such as "DA Member Distributed Literature Date ##-##-##" so others who are not delegates or chapter readers can also view.
My response was "Jersey?" More lile China.
Lol. C'mon. I'd be interested to know if you would take a job at the NY Teacher if we offered it to you.
Imagine: Norm's Notes column in the NY Teacher. Even if it criticizes the leadership.
Lol. C'mon. I'd be interested to know if you would take a job at the NY Teacher if we offered it to you.
Imagine: Norm's Notes column in the NY Teacher. Even if it criticizes the leadership.
After all, you've shown so much tolerance towards people who disagree with you on anything - even the color of your tie. I may still have all those emails and texts from you whenever I didn't agree with something. As do so many others. And one thing we know about the NY Teacher under Portelos -- 20 pages of pictures of you. Can
t wait - I need a new dart board.
Great job Norm and Marjorie. Thanks for the courageous stand you took on Wednesday upholding our rights to distribute literature inside our union hall.
The guy who put his hand to camera is a doorman at 52 Bwy. It was bone-headed, but they were pretty weak about it and backed off right away. Mulgrew knew nothing about it.
Way to go, Norm! (and Marjorie). I will never forget the mob mentality that Unity demonstrated when you were still handing out printed copies of Ednotes in the late 90s when I was a young chapter leader who still didn't realize Unity was completely full of shit. I was told to ignore you and not read your literature because you were "crazy." I would always accept your literature in my hand and read it while sitting among the Unity crowd at the DA. I had no idea what you were about or if you were indeed crazy or not but I knew then what I still know now--No one censors what I read and people who try to stop others from hearing opposing viewpoints are dangerous to America's core beliefs. You didn't back down. Thank you! Roseanne McCosh
Post a Comment