The Paul Egan Story, Redux: Commentary

Interestingly, if you look up the person who replaced [Paul], you discover that she worked for Cuomo, Andy Pallota at NYSUT, and recently for Mulgrew....

So what's actually going on here?
Is there more to this story?
Why was he really fired?
......... comment on the ICEUFT blog 

New Director of Grievance—David Campbell
New Political Director—Cassie Pruh
New Attorney—Beth Norton

Another postponement of my much anticipated UFT election recommendations. Maybe later.

There has been some commentary about the departure of political director Paul Egan from the UFT, which we were the first to report (Rumor: Paul Egan Out at UFT - Everyone is Mum).

Let me say straight up that I have always liked Paul
and though disagreeing with him often on his political endorsements, he always was willing to engage in explaining the rationale and often made sense. I also enjoyed his sense of humor. In my initial post based on a tip I speculated why he would leave at the time UFT lobbying day was coming up and after one of the more successful campaigns this past fall that led to the Democrats recapturing the state Senate.

My initial reaction was that his sudden disappearance had something to with something related to today's environment over sexual issues at work. Ben Chapman at the Daily News apparently had a source and reported on the details (Paul Egan Sex Scandal Breaks in DN). 

But as per the opening and closing comment, I didn't discount this being a political hit. It would have been pretty easy to cover this up and protect Paul.

When I read that report Paul did not seem to do anything that bad. I was relieved. He didn't attack a woman. He had an affair. Or two. And the big issue was he used UFT equipment to text? Doesn't everyone at work use the computers and phones at times to do whatever? How about using union property to order from anti-union Amazon - maybe a worse crime than Paul did.

Let's be very clear because some commenters falsely claim he was removed by the NYPD - in fact protocols were followed - he was escorted out by UFT security. Paul did not commit a crime.

The arguments that this story is a reason not to vote for Unity are ridiculous. There are a thousand better reasons not to vote Unity.

Thus I disagree with James' post on the story on the ICE blog: UNITY'S PAUL EGAN OUT FROM SEX SCANDAL:

Need another reason to vote against anyone running on Unity slate, how about a sex scandal? This is just one symptom of Unity's arrogance of almost completely unaccountable power. At least there was some accountability here.

James does give the UFT credit for acting and Unity people are blasting out that there is no real story here since the UFT took action.

But what they didn't do was provide information to the members and the public about the departure of such an important figure. They tried to bury the story, leaving it open to speculation.

Mike Antonucci makes the same point and wonders whether Paul was given due process. 

Intercepts

NYC Union Sex Scandal Isn’t the Real Scandal -

The only detail I’ll repeat from the Daily News story is that Egan was let go on February 15. UFT was able to keep this a secret not only from the membership, but from its own executive board, for more than a month. The union still has not commented on the affair.
It appears Egan was summarily dismissed. Didn’t he receive due process? Was he allowed to seek union/legal representation? Were the charges documented prior to his firing? What about progressive discipline? Does he have the right of appeal to a review board that includes a member of his choosing? 

We see a lot of people from Unity caucus somewhat sensitive over this issue. They say the DN did a hit job on Paul and turned it into an anti-union diatribe with lots of hidden bombs. I can see that now - but I still don't have issues with linking to it -- I can't be a sensor.

Arthur takes that DN report apart in today's blog: The Paul Egan Story (or Lack Thereof).

Arthur explains why he didn't link to it - and I read Unity Caucus people attacking that report as being part of the general anti-union diatribes. They attacked me for reporting it.

The article dredged up Paul's history, especially the quail story. Arthur mentions the lunch we had with Paul at the AFT convention. I made a tasteless - or tasty - joke about seeing if quail was on the menu and Paul told us he didn't order quail. Anyway, that's all water under the bridge but I don't have problems with the DN story bringing up Paul's history.

Not that Arthur didn't write a piece back in 2011 over the quail story. What Your COPE Dollars Buy
Arthur wrote at the time:

.... when I read something like this, I'm amazed how freely people disregard history. Paul Egan may go where he pleases and eat what he likes, but it behooves him to know he represents the UFT everywhere he goes... Such nonsense leads to boneheaded editorials like this one, stereotyping New York teachers as a bunch of self-indulgent louts. We all do stupid things sometimes. But a political leader must display restraint and diplomacy in public. Though what Egan did really reflects on him alone, we don't need this sort of publicity. He should know better. I'm a lowly teacher, and I know better.

This notwithstanding, I pay into COPE... I had no idea I was buying quail dinners, satisfactory or otherwise, for Paul Egan, who earns 50% more salary than any working teacher. This is not the sort of thing that makes me want to pay what the UFT asks; rather, it makes me want to withhold support altogether.

In today's blog Arthur gives Paul credit for having learned a lesson from that incident. I believe it. Arthur also raises some credibility issues when they had a photo of a very heavy Paul who is now skinny.

Everyone changes their mind and point of view and Arthur is clearly in a different place today than he was in 2011.

It is interesting to read the comments on that 2011 NYC Educator post:

Michael Fiorillo:
.....no union officer shall earn more than the highest-paid member. Maybe it's time to have that discussion in the UFT, and US labor in general. One argument against this is that union officers and staffers usually work longer and far more unpredictable hours than the members they represent. While there is some truth to that - and even in the sclerotic realm of the Unity Caucus, there are many hardworking, dedicated and talented people - the fact remains that being a union officer and staffer, representing and fighting for working people, is a privilege, not a (literal) gravy train.

Arthur replied:

I agree with you. I have to say, though, that if reformers and tabloid editorial writers didn't have incidents like these, they'd simply invent things, just like they invented E4E.

Michael replied:

I would go even further to suggest term limits for any union leadership position. They are not the "geniuses in labor matters" that they think they are. I have been having doubts about their intellectual ability to anticipate any problems that may arise in the future. They sign agreements with the DOE without asking the membership, and then spin it off, as that is the "best we could do". Egan's embarrassing behavior reinforces my negative opinion about UNITY to the highest degree.

Michael's point in 2011 and the UFT silence over the Egan story shows they have not learned anything. If they had gotten out in front of the story, the Daily News wouldn't have had a story.
Paul was not just anyone - he was a major cog in the UFT machinery. I see my role as exposing what they won't, not protecting them. I am a dues paying UFT member for 52 years and don't feel it my obligation to be a loyal lemming.

My contribution was to the comments was to respond to an attack on Paul over how he represented teachers.

Egan does not have a bad rep in terms of service to teachers when he served teachers before he had this position. But as a Unity shill he was the guy who made the main speech at the DA opposing the Bill Thompson nomination, saying at most UFT involvement would move the needle only 2 or 3 points. How'd that work out?

There is clue even then to Arthur's sensitivity to attack on the union. I view part of my blogging is to provide info even if it hurts.
Unity used to criticize me for not giving their side -- "you have the entire UFT communication machine to give your side," I'd reply. "
"My role is to give the opposite side."

Let me close with this comment from the ICE blog which wonders if there were other reasons for Paul's dismissal and I as a conspiracy theorist always thinks there is a lot hidden under the rock.

Not sure exactly why Paul Egan was removed from his position as Political Director. Can't help but feel that there's something else here we're missing.

He was involved in an office romance. Awkward for his wife perhaps, but it has/had nothing to do with the UFT or the membership or the job he did. He was well-thought of both at the UFT and with the politicians. The girlfriend DID NOT work for him so there's no intimidation or Me Too-ism involved. She was a colleague, with, at least, equal status. And Egan is hardly the only one carrying on an adulterous affair at the UFT. And to make it all worse, Egan has neither the years or the age to retire gracefully.

Interestingly, if you look up the person who replaced him, you discover that she worked for Cuomo, Andy Pallota at NYSUT, and recently for Mulgrew.

So what's actually going on here?
Is there more to this story?
Why was he really fired?