http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8472301528763563153&hl=en
(Thanks to David B.)
NEW: Lots of good photos by John Lawhead at the ICE web site: http://www.ice-uft.org
It is clear that the UFT's actions around the rally created a level of anti-Unity caucus sentiment that almost matched the feelings against Tweed.
There's going to be more to come with some video I have from the UFT info meeting occurring at the same time, the meander up Broadway, mostly by the Unity hardcore, and the meeting of the two groups at Tweed.
On the way, Randi came over and suggested I turn over the tape to her because "people are upset" over my taping. She tried to make it seem the ATRs were upset over appearing on You-tube (in fact I had no intention of doing that and told her so). The extreme hostility of Unity (you will see that when I put up the video) was due to the fact that I was documenting their sell-out of the rally.
What was interesting was the level of arrogance Randi and Unity, which includes the entire UFT staff, have when they are in a room overwhelmingly dominated by them as it was at 52 Broadway (and is at Delegate Assemblies). Randi's open attack on me ("Norman, put down that camera") and the screams of outrage by the Unity throng was reminiscent of the same kind of attack she made on former NY Sun Reporter Elizabeth Green (now at Gotham Schools) at the October DA. But creating bogus enemies is a common tactic of dictators as a way of keeping their own supporters (there are enough honest Unity people who see the disaster the state of the union is in) pumped up with perceived threats from within.
It was a different ballgame when they got to Tweed, surrounded by demonstrators who had grown hostile by their absence and were particularly inflamed when they heard there were UFT staffers across the street directing people away from the rally over to the union. Some of them heckled Randi when she spoke, something she is clearly not used to.
Rather than put up my raw tape (a lot of shaky stuff due to the Unity harassment and attempt to block me from filming) David and I will edit both tapes into a 10-minute more watchable piece with excerpts from some of the speeches and a contrast to the wine and cheese munchers at 52 Broadway while the people at Tweed were out in the cold for hours.
6 comments:
I would imagine that the heckling will grow louder as time goes on.
Let's just hope that people can distinguish between the corruption of the Unity Caucus and the union itself.
It really is time for her to go. She has done enough harm.
I agree with you it is time for RW to go.
Yes, I think people are finally seeing the light, and that Randi is playing games with peoples livelihood. I hope people just vote her out of office without fear, and let us get some real advocacy for teachers in this city who are in the trenches trying to survive this mess. Delegates and DR's should not fear her anymore. We need to rebulid this union from the bottom up. The corruption must end, and a new day of real caring and support for teachers and the children they teach must begin NOW!
dear Randi.... All this ATR agreement amounts to is more creative accounting. US ATRS are still being short changed. Why hasnt there been more talk of buy outs, when by sept the ATR ranks will double!!!!!! now what ,eliminate all union members????? THIS IS JUST A BEGINNING AND ANYONE WHO THINKS OTHERWISE IS JUST DREAMING.
RANDI- Mybe you can explain why Canarsie High School was shortchanged their bonuses when others with less pluses were given theirs????? Why more politics down at Tweed????
What about us substitute teachers?
The more ATR's the less work for us, and so in a sense we too have been "excessed". There was a reduction in the sub pool since last year. According to the D.O.E report last year at a DOL unemployment hearing there were 7,500 subs registered in Sub Central. Now according to a "reliable source" at the UFT there are only about 5,000. Where have all the rest of the subs gone? Some may have gotten full time jobs, some were placed on the ineligible list because the registry's top down arbitrary and capricous "do not call list" procedure, some I know just could not take the stress of the UFT's neglect and D.O.E. abuse,so they just quit. M.M's response? "So what, we don't need all those substitute teachers in the pool". I guess he go his wish. And that liaison over there at the UFT, she just protects that wicked registry and claims that most people like it. Not the subs and administartors and staff I speak to. They want it eliminated, because they are trying to eliminate us. The rest of us who are still in the pool are drowning without a life preserver! Radomly sending us to school we never submitted a resume to and then when get there placing us on the "do not call" list
Since this is how they treat itinerant teachers, you know how they treat ATR's, and other members. Like we are despensable.
IT IS AN OUTRAGE! But why preach to the converted? You all know the deal. God help us all!
Hey! Ho! Sub Central's got to go!
It's our turn to have a rally and March on Tweed. If I can just get enough people the let go of thir fears and join me in this fight.
We can win with numbers and exposure. That is what the forces of evil don't like. Exposure.
The ATR rally encouraged me to keep fighting and we shall surely win this battle. We shall because we MUST!
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