Unity Attacks on ABC Verge on Hysteria, ABC Revs up GOTV

After 20 years of Honda CRVs - the current one from 2013 after we lost two cars in the hurricane, I'm trying something new. Today I pick up my new Subaru Forester hybrid - I took a chance on a brand new model just released but I wanted a hybrid and the Forester rates so well and everyone who drives one raves about it - also the first car that is keyless -- I hate that idea -- but that's "progress." I only have 66k mileage on my 12 year old CRV so I'm getting a nice trade-in on a slightly battered car. 

 

Monday, May 12

 

I checked out the interview Marianne Pizzitola did with most of the ABC officer slate last night and expected it to last an hour. Two and a half hours later I was still engrossed in just how rich this discussion was. Anyone who says this group is not ready for leadership of the UFT is an idiot.

 

Check it out and leave a comment: 

https://www.youtube.com/live/L2Ay78AwuUA?si=BxipgAeZF-xTykBa 

 

Also sign up for the ABC GOTV Rally Tuesday 5/13 at 8PM. Sign up at tinyurl.com/abcgotv

 

 

 

And check out this ABC ad: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Abtud1cE8/?mibextid=wwXIfr

 

I won't give details of the insane accusations coming out of Unity attacking ABC -- they seem to think ABC actually has a chance to win. Which of course means some of them may face the dreary prospect of having to go back to the classrooms they have allowed to deteriorate.

 

I generally do not leaflet mail boxes in this election but I decided to do the two schools on my corner, one a D.75 school. I was turned away on Thursday and told to come back Friday and was chatting with the secretary and teacher in charge in the office as I stuffed boxes. They knew little or nothing about the election or who was running and I tried to explain when a para came into the office who was totally up on the election and an ABC supporter. She is a Marianne fan and knew so much about the election and even said she was going to bring her daughter, an Occupation Therapist to the afternoon ABC Rockaway meetup to meet Amy and the crew - and she did.

 

I've been busy with so many ABC events and the constant chats going on. We had a zoom last Thursday night and people I don't know were saying some amazing things. And then we had a Brooklyn meetup on Thursday and Rockaway meetup on Friday and same thing. I have never met or heard of most of them. 

 

This is my first election experience where this has happened but then again the very idea of ABC from the beginning was to reach new people and schools. Will it go deep enough to win this election? Even if not, we have broken new ground in the UFT and the attacks on ABC by both Unity and some ARISE people are indications of the threat ABC poses to both the people in power and to the old legacy caucuses in the oppo. 

 

How could a group of ad hoc individuals from a wide range of ideologies manage to come together, often as strangers, and build a 560 member slate and run an effective campaign when we were lectured ad infinitem that the only way was through the caucus infrasture? 

The very idea for people who believe in "structure" is a threat to their way of thinking -- and I often find this need for strucure is very prevalent with the leftists I have worked with who view me as an anarchist with libertarian tendencies. At the root I find that they and the union leadership just don't trust the rank and file to emerge as leaders which is exactly the opposite of what we've seen with ABC, which is also a threat to their way of thinking.

 

What an interesting UFT election cycle, with all its permutations. I'm looking forward to the May 29 - through "whenever they finish" count, which could take days due to the delays from split ballots -- see my post - UFT Election W25 Splitters: Signs of Unity Desertions to ABC but How Far Will it Go?. Maybe we will know the outcome by July.

Also check out my ruminations on Amy-Gate from Oct. 23, 2023 - where I speculated on splits in Unity Caucus - which came to pass, though I never expected Amy to take her bold step of challenging Mulgrew.

Unity Caucus and Amy-Gate -Reasons for Arundell removal as UFT Queens Borough Rep

The results will check the pulse of UFT members - and the current leadership - and also the legacy caucuses' ability to pull out votes.

 

Will the votes of in service go beyond the usual 25%? ABC predicated its run on increasing that number. Or will the 40% retiree return keep dominating UFT elections? Will the massive shift in retiree votes away from Unity continue? Will some of the votes Unity lost come back to them? Will ARISE and ABC split the anti-Unity retiree vote? What impact will Marianne's support for ABC have? Will paras come out in force for the first time in UFT elections and how would that affect the prospects of ABC? What about the.... Oy - the few hairs I have left are hurting.

 

I am getting blamed by all sorts of people for the existence of ABC who claim if we were one slate we would beat Mulgrew. I never believed one slate under the management of the 3 caucuses that make up ARISE, even with the sliver they offered ABC, would have won and in fact posited that two slates that ran independent campaigns but with enough common candidates was the better option to defeat Unity. I wrote in December -  UFT Elections: The Two Slate Solution - Keep Calm.

 

ABC is a new entity that has never existed in the UFT before due to the influx of Unity people, the first break in Unity probably since the late 60s.

 

ABC is aiming at winning while I see ARISE at aiming at beating ABC. They know they can't win - you know why? Because their leading lights kept saying two slates cannot win. One of their leaders actually said in urging ABC to come to ARISE (when it was ARISE who left ABC) "Do you want this to be your legacy when you die -- you helped Mulgrew win?"

 

Unity clearly doesn't see ARISE as a threat and has worked with all of three caucuses in ARISE over the decades -- NAC, RA and MORE. ABC, with its ex-Unity contingent plus an ad hoc collection of independents and with its more aggressive assault on the Unity machine clearly is viewed as the bigger threat.

 

Even Mulgrew has jumped into the ABC bashing while ignoring ARISE:

 ..the most dangerous thing about them (ABC)? The company they keep. They’re working closely with non UFT organizations–outsiders– who are trying to use our election process to gain control of our union for their own political schemes. Do your research to see who they are backed by.

This is an attack on Marianne but he is afraid to name her here because she is more popular with UFTers than he is. 

They shout over and over: “Members first” but reject plans that address members' needs, like the class size law and para legislation (yes, ABC slate fought back against both.) They throw slogans like “we need change” but offer no policy.

Thus, he accuses ABC of not supporting paras and class size reductions because we were critical of the half-assed way Unity goes about it, like supporting the 10k para bonus while being critical that it is non-pensionable and not trying to make class size reductions more bullet proof through the contract.

 

From the earliest days of this election going back a year, I took a position that the caucus alliance that became ARISE is similar to the UFC alliance from 3 years ago, though with the added imprimatur of the retiree win, along with the para win.

 

Someone made this comment - I forget where:

Their (ARISE) priorities are backwards. Number one priority should be to oust Mulgrew. The rest could be discussed later after getting him out so we could finally effect real change instead of just complaining. Speaks volumes that you (ARISE) are more interested in social justice than doing what is necessary to oust Mulgrew. Protests appeal to you more than petitions. Both are necessary where we are right now as a union, and as a nation. Discord will not help us to carry the day.

I knew Marianne would not support ARISE and told people in RA repeatedly that she would back ABC - and ABC and the ARISE people were at meetings together from March through late October/early November when it was clear Amy was seriously considering running against Mulgrew. ABC offered a plan where everyone could run as individuals from all the caucuses without branding ABC as caucus driven. The caucuses wouldn't accept that even though they had enough people to flood ABC with candidates. First MORE pulled out and then NAC and RA followed. They viewed what was left of ABC as inept and only a few people with a bunch of ex-Unity and felt they would drop out and leave the field for ARISE which offered what was then ABC, a sliver. No one expected ABC to be able to form a massive slate of people to run which exceeded ARISE. Even I was shocked and as the petition coordinator begged them to stop getting people to run since I was drowning in paperwork. I had to lug a massive suitcase full of petitions the day it was due.

 

A lot of the 300 delegates felt they ran under the RA banner but were not included in the decision to run with ARISE plus the group has been kept small and also does not put out minutes of its meetings. Bennett has been the best of them so far - fair-minded but he also needs the support of the other RA people who make up the RTF officer slate and do work for RTC. The problem is that New Action occupies 4 of the 12 slots on RA so their interests take precedence over the interests of RA. Bennett is caught in the middle but goes with the majority, which I get. 

Anyway -- a long election cycle that for many of us began with the meeting at Amy's apartment last March is coming to an end in two weeks. The count is at 52 May 29 and probably May 30 and maybe into June. Any UFT member can observe but if they are overloaded they will use a waiting list. I will be there all the way as an election committee member.

 

Here are some photos from the Rockaway ABC meetup on Friday.

 

 

UFT Election 25 Splitters: Signs of Unity Desertions to ABC but How Far Will it Go?

 

Gene Mann. the well-known and well-read former Unity Caucus Organizer

Tuesday May 6, 2025

If you watch the Unity election reaction you can see some level of panic and hysteria and how much they are focused on attacking ABC and if not ignoring, actually pushing ARISE. But underneath the sturm and drang, we hear lots of whispers about Unity ballot splitters which means instead of voting the Unity slate, they will be picking and choosing a select list of people to vote for, with some (or more than some) favoring Amy Arundell over the unpopular Mulgrew. Which leads to some interesting conjectures: 

Can people win from both ABC and Unity? Or is it even possible for ARISE to sneak in with a 3 way race? I doubt that ARISE has any chance to win while ABC has a path if the retiree and para vote and the breakaway Unity vote come in strong, but I have to say unity is still the favorite - and to those who continue to harange and blame me for two slates I say that if we ran one slate that was dominated and controlled by the 3 members of the ARISE coalition with the ABCs given a slim sliver, we would not have 120 paras running, doubtful backing by Marianne and no Unity split offs voting for such a slate. One slate configured and controlled by ARISE would have had as little chance of winning, so get over it. ABC being freed from the ARISE controls has flourished and brought new blood into the battle.

There are whispers and secret pats on the back coming from a silent minority or maybe majority  of Unity people at all levels in messages to ABC candidates they've known and worked with. Some ABCs have been surprised at the friendliness toward them, given the vicious attacks coming from Unity slugs, some anonymous. 

I DON'T RECOMMEND IT

Clearly, there is worry about their jobs and the prospect of going back to the classroom if Unity loses. So it could be a game of mirrors where they figure they have everything to gain in making nice just in case while maintaining the loyalty oath.

Gene goes on where he points out he's not voting for Amy to send Mulgrew a message but to actually make Amy president.

 

Here's the problem Gene with split ballots: Imagine if you vote for Amy and LeRoy and and other Unity people on adcom and they all win. Amy would be hindered from making needed changes. So vote A Better Contract straight up -- and the people in Unity who do good work will be recognized. A massive ship like the UFT needs a little time to be turned.

But, yes, look for a lot more ballot splitters in this election than in the past, though I tell people that if they don't vote for one slate, these ballot splitter votes are the last to be counted, and often discounted in reported totals because they generally have no real impact on the election as the different totals for candidates come to a few hundred at most.  

But if this is a close race, these split ballot votes may determine some winners. Imagine people in Unity decide to vote for Amy and also their friends in Unity they respect. She could win and be saddled with a Unity dominated adcom and executive board. Real change won't come if that happens - so vote ABC slate.

Some Unity were reassured when Amy has said that there are staffers who are capable and would be needed to help keep the wheels on the union if there was an overturn of the leadership. 

Let's face it. Amy is the wildcard. Insiders know she is smart and competent and capable of running the UFT, probably the most competent opponent Unity has had (I'd exempt James Eterno and possibly Julie Cavanagh). 

The big question is how deep into the schools do people know Amy? I met a guidance counselor in a k-8 school today when I was putting leaflets in the mail boxes (something I swore I would not do but Amy asked me to do this school and a few others) and she knew little about the election (other than two of her colleagues whose photos were over the time clock running with Unity - probably a violation of DOE election rules) but did know about Amy. So the difference between this and other elections is that knowledge about the ABC presidential candidate extends deeper into the schools, especially in Queens, than any other candidate in the past. 

Let's face it -- no matter who is on the slate, people vote based on the president. That was certainly a strategy behind ABC - for better or worse, Amy Arundell is a magnet for matter and some anti-matter - she gives ABC the best chance to win, while also probably costing ABC some votes.

TRS Election Update from Candidate Ben Morgenroth - Election is May 14

UPDATE - May 8 - THE DOE HAS CANCELLED THE TRS ELECTION BY DISQUALIFYING BEN OVER SOME MINOR IRREGULARITY AND DECLARED THE UNITY CANDIDATE THE WINNER

Tuesday May 6, 2025 - 

Congrats to Ben for getting the signatures he needed to run. Unity has controlled the 3 pension reps forever and we need another voice. They serve 3 year terms so there is an election every year. Ben ran last year and got one third of the vote. The election is in the schools on May 14 - retirees, ironically, can't run or vote. I know some people in ABC helped get signatures even though Ben is running with ARISE. It's too bad both campaigns didn't make this an issue to tie into the campaigns but I understand how busy people have been.

Here is Ben's missive:

Hi everyone, A couple of quick updates: First and foremost, congratulations! We collected well over the requisite 1,000 signature to get onto the ballot for the TRS election. This accomplishment is thanks to all of YOU and your hard work! Ours is one of two names that will appear on the ballot in May. I would like to ask everyone to please submit the Google Form below after May 14 to indicate whether the election protocols were properly followed in your school. I may not re-send this form link, so please save a copy of it. Please encourage your colleagues to fill it out as well: www.tinyurl.com/trselection25 Important Election Information: Principals are supposed to provide a copy of the notice of the election, including the names of both candidates, by Wednesday, May 7. Principals are required to hold an election in each school or worksite on Wednesday, May 14. If requested by at least 10% of the staff, the principal must call a meeting between May 2 and May 5 to hold a meeting to discuss the merits of each candidate. Once called to order, the contributors present must elect a chairperson and secretary for the discussion meeting. The election on May 14 shall be held at an in-person, called by the principal. A chairperson and secretary shall be elected at the start of the meeting. At the May 14 meeting: the chairperson shall appoint at least one teller for each of the two candidates, and at least 3 tellers in total. The tellers must be an acknowledged supporter of the particular candidate. Each member receives a ballot and signs a list of contributors (provided by the principal) to indicate they received a ballot. If an error is made, a new ballot shall be provided, and the original ballot shall be indicated as a VOID. No electioneering or discussion of candidates is permissible during the election meeting. For members who are off-site, an alternative voting location is to be provided. After each member has deposited their ballot in the box, the tellers publicly count the ballots and post and announce the results. One copy of the results is to be posted on the official site bulletin board. The ballots are returned to the box, the box is sealed and delivered to the principal, who keeps all ballots in a sealed box for at least 6 months. Note: At CUNY campuses, balloting is to remain open from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM on Wednesday, May 14 and Thursday, May 16. Ballots are counted and tallied at the end of each day (publicly per the procedure above), but not posted until the end of the second day. Please encourage your colleagues to participate in the election on May 14. Thank you again, everyone for all the hard work! Looking forward to the election. Did you know? In 2009, the TDA rate of return was reduced to 7% for UFT titles, an effective cut of $2.3 million per teacher in retirement benefits. All non-UFT titles, including administrators, still receive the full 8.25% TDA. Tier 6 members receive less than half the benefits of Tier 4 members who make equal retirement contributions, and must work up to 15 years longer to receive a full pension. With the recent State re-amortization budget proposal, now, more than ever, it is important to protect our pension against further cuts, and reverse the most recent ones. Candidate statement: www.tinyurl.com/benfortrs2025statement   Committee for the election of  BENJAMIN MORGENROTH AS TEACHER-MEMBER OF THE RETIREMENT BOARD  Co-Chairs  Andrea Kung, Teacher  Urban Academy Laboratory High School 02M565, Manhattan  Aziz Jumash, Teacher  Stuyvesant High School 02M475, Manhattan  TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM  Dear Colleagues: We are pleased to announce that  Benjamin Morgenroth  will be a candidate for election to the Teachers Retirement Board.  Ben Morgenroth has a strong financial background, expertise, a decade of service in the classroom, and is dedicated to sound investments and member education. Ben is the most qualified candidate for election to the Teachers Retirement board and is the only person running with the financial expertise necessary for the position.  Board trustees are fiduciaries responsible to protect the long-term value of the pension’s investment portfolio and provide benefit security for members. They are entrusted to oversee the investment of our funds and achieve the highest possible long-term rate of return consistent with appropriate levels of diversity and risk.  Ben teaches AP Calculus and Algebra II at Brooklyn Technical High School and has served as a passionate teacher in the New York City public schools for the past decade. He also serves as an adjunct lecturer in Mathematics at Hunter College, City University of New York. He is a life-long New Yorker and a graduate of New York City public schools. He comes from a family of educators and TRS members. Ben holds a BA in Applied Math-Economics from Brown University and a MA in Applied Mathematics from Hunter College. Prior to teaching, Ben served as a business technology consultant and hedge fund risk analyst, helping to manage $3 billion in client investments.  In addition to his investment knowledge and financial expertise, Ben has intimate knowledge of the pension, including the nuances of individual Tiers. Ben is experienced at sharing his extensive pension knowledge with individual members and large groups, including the webinar he hosted focused on understanding and improving pension benefits, options, and Tier 6 reform.  Ben is running as an independent-thinking, union-proud, classroom educator who will serve with the best interests of everyday educators, like you, in mind. He is not beholden to the investors from TRS or any DOE official. This Trustee position will be the third to change hands in as many years. We need to keep our billions of dollars of investments safe and only someone with a strong investment background can be trusted to keep our pension stable, solvent, and ensure that it continues to grow. Ben’s classroom and financial experience make him the best qualified candidate for teacher trustee of TRS.  Ben’s top priorities for our pension:  1. Ensure financial stability and fund solvency to secure financial futures for retirees. 2. Aggressively and judiciously pursue investments that maximize returns while minimizing risk. 3. Continue to hold webinars and workshops in schools to ensure members understand our pension including benefits, investment, and retirement options.  Reverse pension cuts through advocacy to:  ● Improve pension and disability benefits, and pension flexibility, for members in all tiers. ● Restore the 8.25% TDA rate still received by all TRS members except UFT titles, and reverse the 30% reduction (approximately, with compounding) in our TDA benefits instituted in 2009. ● Reduce pension contributions for all tiers and restore the end of pension contributions after 10 years of service.  ● Restore retirement age to 55 for Tier 6 members.  ● Reverse the over 50% reduction in benefits for Tier 6 (compared to Tier 4 with equal contributions) instituted in 2010-2012.  ● Improve Final Average Salary calculation for pension benefits that better reflect real earnings. ● Update COLA law for benefit increases that keep pace with inflation.  ● Offer swifter movement of funds between TDA investment options (reduce time lag from 30-120 days to 1 day)

 

ABC Update: Ballots are out, Candidates Write Letters to Staff, Thursday Brooklyn and Friday Rockaway Meetups, The First 100 Days

Monday, May 5 - Cinquo de Mayo.

 

ABC has been busy - too busy for me to keep up. And now that ballots are out we are in the final stages. Ballots must be returned by May 28 at 9 AM - which really means May 27 - in essence they took two days off the balloting -- we used to be able to return the day of the count which is May 29 and May 30 and maybe even beyond that. Imagine the ballots sitting at 52 Broadway overnight and possibly the weekend.

 

 

 

 

Marianne video:

Spring is a fresh start, the UFT election is too! vote ABC

https://www.youtube.com/live/CEAbn1x4uO8?si=Spl9fy-P9vz0Tp2U

 

 

Why vote for A Better Contract? Because we’re ready to hit the ground running. 💥 On Day 1, we launch a real contract campaign—no delays, no excuses. Our first 100 days will be about rebuilding union strength, ending backroom deals, and finally putting an end to concession-driven leadership.

Vote for bold, transparent, and fearless action. Vote for A Better Contract. ✊

#VoteABC #BetterContractNow #UnionStrong #EndTheConcessions #RealLeadership #UFTelection2025 #NoMoreDeals #TeachersDeserveBetter

 

ABC is committed to transforming our union by listening to our members, who include YOU! You matter-- your experience, your expertise, your frustrations, your health and your happiness! Talk to us and vote for member-driven participation!

 

And don't forget the happy hours in person plus all the zooms. 

 

We had a nice time in Westchester on Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABC needs donations to expand our reach for Zoom, MailerLite & printing, especially with more ABC supporters attending our Zoom/in-person events. Any contribution is highly appreciated, so please donate here: https://donate.stripe.com/3cs3df9wBaL1aVaeUU

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Colleagues,

As many of you know, union elections are just two short weeks away.  I’m writing to you today not only as a fellow educator, but as someone who has spent over two decades walking these hallways with you-teaching, learning, growing, and advocating for what’s right for our students and ourselves.

In that time, we’ve stood side by side through challenges and triumphs.  We’ve celebrated each other’s milestones and supported one another through good times and bad.  It’s that shared history, and that deep-rooted connection, that gives me the confidence to ask for your support-and your vote.

I am proud to be running with the ABC Coalition, a team committed to transparency, equity, and putting educators first.  We believe in strong, united leadership that listens, collaborates and takes action.  We want a union that is truly beholden to its members and puts their interests before all others.  I would be honored to bring my years of experience, union involvement, and unwavering passion for our profession to a leadership role on your behalf.

You know me.  You’ve seen my passion.  Some of us have had our ups and downs together, but through it all we’ve come through it stronger and with deeper understanding.  I'm Asking you to trust in that history-and in me-as we head into this important election.

Let’s build the kind of union we can really be proud of by showing your support and trust, and voting for the ABC Coalition.

With gratitude,

Proud Elementary Teacher, and proud ABC Executive Board Candidate

 

March 2007 - James Eterno: ICE BEATS NEW ACTION HANDS DOWN There's No Comparison; I've been with Both Groups!

Why run as an opposition group if you don't oppose much of anything the leadership does? Maybe you want to eliminate the real opposition: ICE-TJC. A truly independent opposition to Unity will strengthen the UFT. New Action's last stint on the executive board proved that some of their people didn't oppose or question Randi too often. I urge everyone to vote for ICE-TJC.

The ICE-TJC opposition to Unity over the last three years has been more active and effective as compared to the prior three when NAC was on the Executive Board, cementing their "bipartisan" relationship with Randi. We have a solid record of raising issues and actually getting some stuff accomplished at the UFT Executive Board.... In 2004 when the resolution to have the president appoint DR’s was up for renewal, only NAC's Ed Beller and I voted no. New Action's other representatives had changed their view or didn't vote..... James Eterno, ICE blog, March 2007

• UFT Election Results 2004/07 Compared

 

May 1, 2025 - Ballots go out today. A vote for ARISE is a vote for Unity.

New Action and Unity have been in the forefront of attacks on ABC in this election. But no surprise there. History counts.

As part of the ARISE coalition, New Action brags about its history and when challenged about their sellout to Unity Caucus from 2003 through 2016, they actually defend it by using the excuse of the Bloomberg attacks and the need for the oppo to work with Unity in bi-partisanship. Bring up the fact that many of the NAC pack were on the union payroll and they go silent. NAC is also a big component of Retiree Advocate and they still tiptoe around Unity.

ICE - Independent Community of Educators - was a group of individuals and ex-caucus members and similar to ABC in many ways - formed in response. The late James Eterno, Ellen Fox and Lisa North all left NAC to join ICE which allied with Teachers for a Just Contract (TJC) which became an active caucus in response to the sellout for elections and defeated the NAC HS candidates in the 2004 election. NAC then ran on the Unity slate in 2007 and won back those seats which they held through 2016. Just as the NACers in ARISE attack ABC in the 2025 election, they did the same to ICE in 2007 (and in other elections). 

Here in a 2007 pre-election blog posting, James compares his 7 years with NAC on the Exec Bd with his 3 years with ICE. I witnessed much of it and saw James grow into a tiger working with the ICEers Jeff Kaufman and Barbara Kaplan-Halper. When James was in NAC I used to sit behind him at Exec Bd meetings and prod him to break out of the NAC stranglehold. I remember a particular issue where some NACers were resisting a Unity push and the NAC leader, currently running for the second highest position in the UFT,  went around telling them to cool it because resistance would make Randi mad. 

In all the years of contention with Bloomberg over closing schools and other issues, I attended almost all PEP (Board of Ed) meetings with other activists to protest Joel Klein and his policies. Throughout the dozen years of Bloomberg, NAC had no presence in the resistance, so the Bloomberg excuse for running with Unity is bullshit.

Here James provides a preview of the different approaches between ICE and NAC which echoes the differences we see between the ABC and ARISE approach.

Thursday, March 08, 2007

ICE BEATS NEW ACTION HANDS DOWN

ABC-UFT Media - Mulgrew’s Election Tactics Spark Legal Consequences

For Immediate Release

Press contact: Mike Schirtzer

(917)683-7014

(New York, N.Y.) The "A Better Contract" slate is sounding the alarm on a desperate, undemocratic move by United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew and his Unity Caucus in the upcoming UFT union-wide officer elections. Despite paper ballots being mailed out to members on May 1st, Mulgrew has decided to add his own election rules and block several attempts to increase voter participation.

After years of rejecting electronic voting—even though our sister AFT union, PSC-CUNY, already uses it successfully—and watching turnout plummet, Unity is now pushing a last-minute in-person voting plan at select, controlled locations. Meanwhile, they’re rejecting the one solution that would actually boost turnout and empower members: in-person voting at our own schools and worksites, the same way we vote for our union contract, Chapter Leaders, Delegates, and Paraprofessional Representatives. The fact we elect our building representatives in school, but not who leads our union is absurd.

Online voting would also allow for members with disabilities, such as those who are visually impaired, to cast their votes independently. This would be considered a “Reasonable Accommodation” under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

“They had no interest in increasing participation when members demanded real reform,” said Amy Arundell, UFT Presidential challenger. “Now that they’re losing their grip, they want to stage controlled, in-person voting sites where they can feed you, give you a gift—and convince you to vote again.”

Here’s the catch: if a member votes again in person, that vote overrides their mail-in ballot. That means your original vote—already cast —gets thrown out and replaced. It’s double voting with a twist: only the second vote counts.

Even more concerning, many of these in-person voting events are being held at special dinners and award ceremonies—mixing voting with celebrations in a way that creates the appearance of impropriety. This raises serious ethical concerns and calls into question the legitimacy of the entire process.

“They won’t let us vote at school or online—but they’ll hand out dinners, awards, and gift bags, then tell members to vote again. First vote tossed. That’s not democracy—it’s a scam,” said Daniel Alicea, candidate for UFT Vice President of Middle Schools.

“This is about one thing: control,” said Arundell. “Unity knows the only way they can hold onto power is by stacking the deck—selecting who votes where, while their loyal insiders run the show.”

To make matters worse, the so-called “nonpartisan” election committee is anything but. It’s filled with Unity Caucus members and paid union staffers, making this entire process biased from the top down.

The A Better Contract slate has filed a lawsuit to stop this manipulation and is demanding a fair election—where every vote counts, no matter how or where it’s cast.

“This union belongs to the educators in our classrooms—not to a political machine clinging to power,” said Arundell. “We’re not backing down.”

Link to full lawsuit here

verified petition2.pdf drive.google.com

A Better Contract is an independent slate of over 550 UFT members that will challenge the over six