GEMATR Committee Report: What Happens in the Bronx Doesn't Stay in the Bronx

I sent out this report to the GEMATR committee this morning with a report on the Bronx UFT ATR Meeting yesterday. Look for reports from the Brooklyn meeting today.

Welcome to new recruits to the GEMATR Committee. Our last updates were sent out on Sunday Oct. 2. If you signed up after that and want to receive it email gemnyc@gmail.com. Also - if you are planning on attending the meeting we are calling for Oct. 20 let us know so we have an idea of how many will be there.  Details: ATR Strategy and Information Meeting on October 20

Attached are the 2 leaflets we are sending out. The first is what you should share with other attendees. The 2nd is a signup sheet for people who are interested. [obviously not attached here but email me if you want a copy - to the right- to share with other ATRs or hand out at the other UFT ATR meetings.] Read the text of the leaflet at NYCATR: ATR = Absolutely Teaching Ready

Update on the blogs:

Gotham Schools has a report on the UFT Meetings: Union to detail ATR plan at meetings for position-less teachers

Go leave your comments. Philip Nobile said:

Your story on this week’s UFT/ATR meetings in borough offices is upside down. You make it seem as if the union is doing us ATRs a favor. In fact, the UFT originally brushed off our request for a sitdown and real union representation. Instead they offered us the crumb of tracking down strange chapter leaders as we trudged from school to school every week throughout the year. Clearly, Mulgrew does not want us to organize and will undoubtedly refuse our demand for chapter status. Three times I asked Brooklyn Borough Rep Howie Schoor to allow us ATRs to meet privately on site before the formal meeting and three times he dodged the question. Such is Unity’s undemocratic instinct.

Chaz says:

Presently, the UFT inaction has embarrassed their members and alienated the ATRs that they are supposed to represent.
Below is a report sent in by an attendee at Monday's ATR in the Bronx. If you attended, please send in your reports. Ed Notes and NYCATR will be publishing reports from all the UFT ATR Meetings this week and next. If you are going to a meeting, consider the goals - to get the UFT to act by building an ATR force. Instead of telling personal stories, push the demands in the leaflets.

Read his full post: http://chaz11.blogspot.com

Check the latest at the mouthpiece for ATRs: http://nycatr.blogspot.com

UFT ATR Meetings continue:
Today: Brooklyn
Tomorrow: SI
Thurs: Queens
Next Tuesday: Manhattan - if any of you would like to join us handing out leaflets at this event in front of 52 Broadway, please let us know.

The Bronx meeting from an ATR who attended:

Similar to the white shirts elsewhere in demo vs. the power conflicts --which shall be nameless,   the UFT had 3 white shirts in jackets on the sides and the front of the hall.
About an equal number of staff were along the left and rear walls of the hall.
Two staff or reps stood at the front of the hall.  One of these and one of the shirts in suits did most of the UFT chattering.
Refreshingly, they did not orchestrate too much.
One the reps chattered long with her answers.  I didn't have the guts to yell time or time check.
The hall seemed full.  I'd estimate about 120 attendees.  I was quite surprised.
The tone was overwhelmingly displeased.  A handful of them spoke with passion.
Alas, FARRRR too many arcane personal stories.
A lot of people seemed open to coming to the October 20 meeting.
The meeting's leader's mantras were:

"Be lucky you have a job"

"Bloomberg wanted to fire all of you."

"We're fighting really hard for you."

If we had said it's going to rain tomorrow, they would say these things.
If we had mentioned the Jets game, they would say these things.

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Check out Norms Notes for a variety of articles of interest: http://normsnotes2.blogspot.com/. And make sure to check out the side panel on the right for important bits.