Unfortunately, President Del Grosso was not in attendance [at the swearing in] , so the date could not be set. ... NEW Caucus report
....the Newark contract deal was celebrated by Republican
Governor Chris Christie and by American Federation of Teachers President
Randi Weingarten, who called the deal “a system of the future” and an
example “that collective bargaining really works.” In contrast, Rippey [Del Grosso's opponent]
told The Nation that the deal “basically is a complete capitulation to the corporate agenda.” ... The Nation
Shamelessly currying favor with Cory Booker and Chris Christie,
Weingarten used the national union's resources to push Newark teachers
and kids under the bus. In this election of officers, NTU members pushed
back. But don't be surprised if Weingarten sees the handwriting on the
wall and tries to make nice with New Visions.... Quite an
accomplishment for a caucus that really began to pick up steam only
after AFT President Randi Weingarten used the national union's
organizers to push acceptance of contract that strips Newark education
workers of their most basic rights as professionals and workers......Lois Wiener, New Politics
Let's watch this one play out with a president who won by only 9 votes (with 40 going to a 3rd party candidate) while New Visions controls the Exec Bd. Keep in mind that Newark is one of the only New Jersey AFT affiliated locals, which given Randi's work in negotiating the contract might lead to some interesting national repercussions.
The Nation has a piece on this belle weather teacher union election :
And Ed Notes has been reporting over the last week:
Lois Weiner at New Politics has a piece:
From NEW Caucus:
On Friday new Executive Board members (also known as Vice-Presidents) were sworn in at the NTU hall!
THANKS to all who came out to see this important moment and show support for the newly elected VP's. It was a great show of solidarity and positivity within the Newark Teachers Union!
2 major pieces of information about what happened at the meeting:
1) For the first time in at least 16 years, there are Vice-Presidents who are not members of Joe Del Grosso's SAC slate. 17 (of 18 elected) NEW Vision slate candidates were sworn in. It was a great moment for democracy in the Newark Teachers Union.
2) Newly sworn in NEW Vision slate members requested the date for the July Executive Board meeting. The NTU By-Laws require that the Executive- Board meet monthly at the call of the President. Unfortunately, President Del Grosso was not in attendance, so the date could not be set. We were assured by Eugene Liss, the NTU attorney, that the secretary would pass the request on to the President so that he can set a date for the meeting in late July.
NEW Caucus will send out the date the moment we know it.
BUT, even more significant, and despite the fact that this was officially a full membership meeting, the quorum of Executive Board members in attendance proposed and voted on two motions that may begin the process of democratizing the Executive Board and encouraging membership interest in the workings of the Board.
Below are the two motions, BOTH OF WHICH WERE APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY by the quorum of Vice-Presidents in attendance. Both were read proposed by VP Al Moussab.
I move that the President create a calendar of monthly Executive Board meetings and quarterly general membership meetings for the 2013-2014 school year that will be emailed to all NTU members as well as uploaded on the NTU website and placed on all NTU bulletin boards in every school by the first day of school.
I move that all Executive Board meeting minutes as well as general membership meeting
minutes are emailed to all NTU members as well as uploaded on the NTU website for all
members to access within 2 days after the meeting.
It now remains for President Del Grosso to thoroughly implement these 2 motions. The newly elected Vice-Presidents will work hard throughout the summer to ensure the July meeting takes place, and that these 2 motions are implemented completely.
In Solidarity,
Newark Education Workers Caucus
(NEW Caucus)
Facebook.com/NEWCaucus
Google Calendar: NewarkEducationWorkersCaucus@gmail.com
Positive winds of change in Newark NJ public schools
A reform caucus in the Newark Teachers Union
(NTU) made remarkable gains in the union election that ended on
Friday. Out of about 3000 members eligible to vote, 1200 NTU members
cast their ballots. (Sadly, that proportion is about par for US
unions.)
The
New Visions candidate for President lost by only 9 votes to the
long-time chief, Joe Del Grosso, who will now serve his 10th two-year
term. New Visions won 18 of 29 slots on the Executive Board, giving
this vibrant, multi-racial slate of reformers a majority. Quite an
accomplishment for a caucus that really began to pick up steam only
after AFT President Randi Weingarten used the national union's
organizers to push acceptance of contract that strips Newark education
workers of their most basic rights as professionals and workers.
Shamelessly currying favor with Cory Booker and Chris Christie,
Weingarten used the national union's resources to push Newark teachers
and kids under the bus. In this election of officers, NTU members pushed
back. But don't be surprised if Weingarten sees the handwriting on the
wall and tries to make nice with New Visions. Still, I'm confident New
Visions won't be snookered. This savvy group of activists are building
the union at the school site, working with parents and students,
democratizing the union to "give Newark students schools they deserve."
New Visions understands that the future of their union - and public
education - requires a different kind of teacher unionism - and union
leadership. And they're poised to provide it.
The Nation article:
