Randi Visits Philly an Attempt to Prop Up Union Leadership in Face of Working Educator (WE) Dissident Union Election Campaign

UPDATED With added links

[Philly Teacher Federation President and Randi fan] Jerry Jordan said the election announcement would be snail mailed to members at schools at the Thursday Executive Board meeting and they voted to accept. (The same meeting that expanded the number of delegates to the AFT convention from 70 to 100.) They refused to let WE members in attendance see the announcement and election schedule.... Contact in Philadelphia

No wonder Randi loves Jerry- a fellow undemocratic union leader. These kind of actions will certainly help gain support (tongue deeply in cheek) if Friedrichs comes down on unions.

National Union Leader Gets First-Hand Look At How Community Schools Concept May Play Out In Philadelphia | CBS Philly

Note that the expansion of delegates also gives Randi more support at the national AFT conventions - if Jerry Jordan slate defeats WE Caucus which is an ally of MORE.

Many of us are excited to see the emergence of WE Caucus especially since it is so new. Some pundits give them a puncher's chance at winning. If Philly joins other cities in falling to a more progressive union leadership Randi has to start worrying about all the progressive caucuses loosely affiliated nationally getting together to challenge her Unity dominated national caucus. That probably won't happen next summer in Minneapolis but observing if they gather together for even informal meetings and events will be a sign of the future.

So Randi shows up to punch Jerry Jordan's ticket and prop him up against WE and maybe give him some advice on how to use the full manipulations possible to stack the election to keep WE away.

Supplementary: Community schools model the way to go in Philly | Randi Weingarten and Jerry Jordan - Philadelphia Inquirer - December 28, 2015

Here is a message from Working Educators:

http://www.workingeducators.org/feb_4_get_your_pft_ballot_then_vote

Feb 4: Check the mail for your PFT ballot, then VOTE!

Posted by The Caucus Blog 5sc on December 21, 2015

Today, procedures for the 2016 Philadelphia Federation of Teachers election were released publicly.

Now it’s official: the Caucus of Working Educators will be running a full slate in the upcoming elections -- including PFT Executive Officers, Executive Board, and PA AFT and national AFT convention delegates. WE are excited for this election and the opportunity to involve every one of our 11,500 members in the work of strengthening our union and fighting for our profession and public education.

Whether this is the first time you’re hearing about the election, or you’ve been following the headlines since we announced our intent to run in September, here’s all the info you need:

1. You will be voting for 36 Positions: 9 Executive Officers, and 27 Executive Board Members.
2. You will also vote for 100 Philadelphia delegates to the national AFT convention in Minneapolis in 2016, and 100 delegates to the PA AFT Convention in 2017 (location TBA).
3. The election will be held via mail-in ballot. Ballots will be mailed to the homes of every PFT member on February 4th, and they need to arrive at the office of the American Arbitration Association by Tuesday, February 23rd.
   1. This means it is critical that you have an updated address on file with the PFT. If there is any possibility your address is not up to date, call the PFT Office ASAP to check at (215) 587-6738.
   2. If you do not receive your ballot, call the American Arbitration Association hotline at 215-731-2280.
4. Each slate will be able to send mailings to the addresses of every voting PFT member leading up to the election (but don’t wait around - help distribute WE flyers at your school today!)
5. A nomination and election committee will be formed with up to 5 members from each slate to oversee the election.
6. On February 24th at 9:00am, ballots will be counted by the American Arbitration Association, with members of each slate present as observers.
7. For the full official election procedures, download and share this PDF document.

So, are you ready to help Working Educators transform and re-energize our union to fight for the schools Philadelphia deserves? Here’s how you can help:

-Make sure your colleagues and friends know there’s an election coming up (you’d be surprised how many PFT members have no idea!).

-Invite members of the WE Slate to host a “Who are WE?” session for your colleagues at your school or a nearby location.

-Distribute buttons, stickers, pens or t-shirts in your school, and make sure to take a #WEWednesdays photo with everyone.

-Help hand out WE flyers at schools in your school, neighborhood, or by your workplace. Contact us for materials and needed locations.

-Support us and become part of the campaign by joining as a member or supporting member (for non-PFT members)!

-Donate to our fundraising campaign to pay for flyers, supplies, and events.

Add ons-
Related:
Community schools model the way to go in Philly | Randi Weingarten and Jerry Jordan - Philadelphia Inquirer - December 28, 2015

Schools Mattter: Pennsylvania is failing Philly's schools – so, close the schools?

by Daun Kauffman
Daun Kauffman is  North Philadelphia public school teacher. This article is posted on his blog  LucidWitness.com