UFT Sept. 19 Exec Bd Takeaways: Coalition Jells in Pre-Meeting, Unity turns down working with Oppo on Ex Bd, Big Grievance win with serious money at Aviation HS

Monday, Oct. 3, 2022

 

Tonight is an Ex Bd meeting (see below for agenda). 

 

I attended the Sept. 19 meeting and tested pos for Covid 36 hours later -- unlikely I got it there. I feel great but last tested pos on Thursday - a deep dark line. I may be neg but with the weather I am staying home and will zoom in. I will test again tomorrow because we have a Peter Lugers date with family on Friday and have to give notice if we are still pos. Some people stay pos for up to 90 days I was told. Fingers crossed. I can taste that steak -- thank goodness I still have my sense of taste - my wife feels she has lost some sense -- I
think I can steal some of her steak if we end up going to Lugers.

Anyway, I started writing this report two weeks ago but got distracted by covid. They serve food and despite my request for Peter Luger steaks being rejected, the food has been quite good.

Sept. 20, 2022: UFT Ex Bd meeting - 18 people associated with opposition show up in person and more on zoom.

It is important for non-Unity people to attend these meetings as a declaration that the UFT is not owned by Unity.

 

I enjoy these meetings for the camaraderie of the various elements of the United for Change coalition, which has not been very active since the election ended in May. At both the Sept. 12 and 19th meetings we all met an hour before and talked about which issues that need to be addressed, questions asked, etc. 

Here's what's really interesting. Many Retiree Advocate people are there mingling with the 30 something new people and what a nice dynamic. That's what I will miss tonight.

We discussed a reso calling for a bi-partisan ex bd action committee - similar to the arrangement New Action had with Unity in their ten years of bipartisanship -- I will admit to have a gag reflex at that memory --- I don't believe in working at the top with people who really have little interest - and that was proven immediatly at the Unity reaction - or over reaction to this mild reso.

When the elected high school Exec. Bd. members presented their resolution --- Nick Bacon did it - see Nick's New Action report on the Exec Bd.:

• Substitute Rights, Healthcare, Buses, 6th Classes, and a No to Action Committee – UFT Executive Board, 9/19/2022

• EXECUTIVE BOARD REPORT (Unedited)

....it was predictable Unity would line-up to attack the resolution. As one Unity Caucus speaker after another lined up at the microphones to speak against you could tell how scripted the attack was. Many speakers stated that the UFT Negotiating Committee of 500 should constitute and be the controlling factor in forming a UFT Action Committee. This was supposed to make sense! Really a committee of 500?...New Action: Substitute Rights, Healthcare, Buses, 6th Classes, and a No to Action Committee – UFT Executive Board, 9/19/2022

  

It's not a bad argument - if the negotiating committee is legitimate and not a rubber stamp. I don't feel forming little bi-partisan action committees with Unity has much worth. I'm not for participating in the Unity stacked negotiating committee either -- but the UFC people think they had to be there or get slammed - and some even think they can accomplish something. Maybe they will. I don't hold out much hope.

To me what was interesting was the initial reaction - or non-reaction - of the UFC people who didn't seem to have an offhand response to the Unity argument that the negotiating committee was more democratic. But saving the day from the zoom was Mike Schirtzer -- the lone independent on the Ex bd even though he was elected on the Unity slate. He came up with a cogent, logical reason for this committee that almost convinced me. Sorry, Covid fog has wiped out what he said. (And what a great excuse I have now for anything I screw up.) Mike seemed to unlock the door for the UFC people and one after another they went to the mic and made their case.

Ok - what else happened at the meeting? I claim Covid fog but you can read the official UFT minutes below. But Ibeth Mejia, CL of Aviation HS, talked about her school's major grievance win. Eterno has a more detailed report on how Unity/UFT has let 20 years go by without forcing the issue - CHAPTER LEADER WEEKLY UPDATE: CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS START OCT 13; AVIATION HS SIXTH PERIOD PAY GRIEVANCE WIN;
 

I also wanted to share some thoughts about the UFC crew from someone I will keep anon due to some connections to Unity -- but it is so well written and thought out:

I just wanted to express my gratitude for all you have done in just 2 executive board meetings. 

You have brought school based, member issues to the leadership of our union, it is important that the folks leading our union hear from working members so they are aware of what is going in our classrooms. 

I know some of you may be disappointed the reso didnt pass, but the debate around it  was great and meaningful. 

Resos brought by opposition will not pass unless it is run by adcom (officers) first- but it still serves at least two purposes.

1. It redirects or changes the conversation-even when it doesnt pass- i would expect at the next contract meeting there will be talk about school based actions-this only happens because of your reso. 

2. it serves a political purpose, I hope all your groups send out to your members the reso you brought forth and the rationale for it and share the minutes of the meeting from nick and eterno-it is important that members see what theyre votes resulted in-a group of representatives bringing members' interests forward to our leadership. I also hope you share the ex bd meeting notes with your chapter 

The tone and meaning of these meetings have already changed, the talk is about member issues and member concerns-your very presence at these meetings makes it better. It is important that our leaders are accountable to the members they serve-you are there holding their feet to the fire.

At any rate, every member has a better union, a more responsive union, because of your presence and action at these meetings.

And notes for tonight:

 Official from UFT sent out for Oct, 3 meeting

A.  Routine Items

 

1. Approval of the Minutes

2. President's Report

3. Staff Director's Report

4. Question Period

 

B.  Standing Committees

 

1. Report from Districts

2. Legislative Report

 

C.  Special Order of Business

 

1.  Election Complaint

 

 

Future Meetings:

 

AdCom:   Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28

Exec. Bd.: Oct. 24

DA:          Oct. 12

 

Executive Board Minutes

September 19, 2022

 

Present:      S. Abrams, Adika, Aklu, Alford, Alexander, Almonte, Anastasiou, Aromando, Arroyo, Arundell, Atkinson, Ayrovainen, Bacon, Barker, Barr, Bello, Bennett, Bongiovanni,  R. Brown, T. Brown, Calamia, Cambria, Castro, Colvin, Conaboy, Coppola, Crispino, Destin, Diakite, Eaddy, Espert, Filomena, Franks, Friedman, Gaglione, Garcia, Geist, Ginese, Goldman, Gordon, Highland, Hill, Hinds, Howrilka, Hughes, Jallot, Josaphat, Kazansky, Khalid, Kuzar, S. Lee, V. Lee, Mantell, Mejia, Mulgrew, C. Murphy, T. Murphy, Nanay, Negron, Peña, Penny, E. Perez, Polite, Poulos, Ramos, Robbins, Rock, Rodriguez, Rogers, Rosier-Rayburn, Rotkowitz, Ruiz, Rzonca, Santos, Sarabia, Schirtzer, Shapiro, Sill, Silva, Sorkin, Surpris, Thompson, Tindal, Usatch, Vaccaro, Waltzer, Weinerman, Wilks-Duplan, Williams, Williams-Crawford, Yon.

Excused:     Altomare, Artis, Bart, Harmon, Lozupone, T. Miller, Pender, Reed, Sandau, Skinner, Webb-Geddes.

 

Secretary Barr called the meeting to order.  He welcomed all the executive  board members and guests.

 

Secretary Barr explained about the 10-minute open mic period which is divided among the number of speakers wishing to make statements to the executive board.  Please note that this is not a question and answer period.

 

Motion:       To approve the Executive Board minutes of September 12, 2022.

 

                                            Carried

 

President Mulgrew’s report:

 

We are moving towards our first negotiations meetings which should take place during the second week of October.   This administration seems to be focused on everything but the bread and butter of what makes NYC move.  These negotiations will not be easy for any of the unions.  City workers worked throughout the pandemic.  They should have been ready to negotiate.  When the negotiating committee meets in two weeks we will take their lead on how to strategize.

 

The MOSL calendar opens up on October 7 and closes October 22.   We would like to hold a quick virtual training on Thursday, September 29^th at 4:30 PM to get people up to speed on the different ways that should be looked at when deciding on what MOSL to pick.  We may have to move those dates if we do not come to a decision with the DOE on assessments.

 

We will testify at the city council this week.  Mulgrew has been a participant in the Fair Student Funding Task Force and it’s amazing that we are still dealing with the original people from the Bloomberg administration.  The words fair student funding sounds nice but they use the most unequitable ways to fund schools.  It has to be hybrid.  Staffing positions should have nothing to do with a school’s budget.  Since the DOE started fair student funding the one thing it is constantly tied to is higher non-compliance rates.  When you tell a principal that they have to supply all these services, they start looking at IEP’s which is the wrong approach.  This method does not work for schools at all.

 

Secretary Barr’s report:

 

1. The Making Strides Walk is taking place in Brooklyn on Sunday, October 9.  In Manhattan and Staten Island it takes place on Sunday, October 16.  In the Bronx it takes place on Sunday, October 23.  Flyers will be sent electronically.
2. Rosh Hashanah is next week on Monday and Tuesday.
3. The negotiating committee will convene on Wednesday, September 28.
4. The next Executive Board takes place on October 3.
5. The first Delegate Assembly of the school year will be on October 12.

 

Assistant Secretary Michael Sill gave a report on the medical accommodation process.  The DOE finally sent out this guidance on Wednesday.  If the principal cannot find remote work for members who are sick, the DOE will help them find work in the central office.

 

Vice President Mary Vaccaro spoke about Teacher Center courses.   There are currently 146 Teacher Center sites that are open.  There will be another 36 sites coming shortly.  The apple workshops are going on consistently for anyone interested in online instruction.  This workshop qualifies for CTLE credits.  Some of the apple workshops are LCTLE.  We met with google last week.  They are also doing a workshop on next steps to start your classrooms.  The ELL courses are starting.  If interested, this also qualifies for CTLE or college credit through us.  All of the mandated courses are now being given through Teacher Center.  The autism workshop was sold out on Saturday.  We will add more classes.  At every TC site after school they will be doing book studies, in addition to professional development all for CTLE.  Anyone can attend the after-school workshops even if the site is not in their school.  We will send a list of the location of these sites.

 

The following resolution was submitted by: Ronnie Almonte, Nick Bacon, Ed Calamia, Lydia Howrilka, Alex Jallot, Ibeth Mejia, Ilona Nanay and Mike Schirtzer.

 

Motion:       To approve the following resolution:

 

Resolution to Organize and Mobilize for a Contract Fight

 

Whereas, the UFT contracts expired on September 13, 2022; and

 

Whereas, there have been no negotiations for a successor agreement;

 

Whereas, the UFT has a long history of involving our rank and file membership in mobilization to put pressure on the city to come to agreements.

 

Whereas, in the past President Randi Weingarten worked with a bipartisan executive board to establish just such a rank & file committee (the UFT Action Committee).

 

Resolved, that the Executive Board will form a UFT Action Committee made up primarily of school based Executive Board members of all divisions to plan a series of escalating actions to build public support and force the city-DOE to come to a fair agreement on a new UFT contract.

 

                                                                                                                             Defeated

 

Motion:       To adjourn.

 

                                            Carried

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

LeRoy Barr

Secretary

 

UNITED FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

52 Broadway

New York City  10004

 

AdCom Minutes

September 16, 2022

 

Present:       Alford, Barr, Brown, Ginese, Goldman, Gordon, Hinds, Mantell, Mulgrew, Penny, Sill,

                      Vaccaro.

 

Motion:       To send 3 members to the NAACP New York State Conference Convention on October 6-7, 2022 in Binghamton, NY, at a cost of $613 per person.

                                            Carried

Motion:       To send 3 members to the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) Conference on October 7-9, 2022 in Washington, DC, at a cost of $1,513 per person.

                                            Carried

Motion:       To approve that 1 member attend the National Family Engagement Virtual Summit on October 10-11, 2022 at a cost of $375.

                                            Carried

Motion:       To approve the following Retiree Programs self-sustaining trips:

BRONX

1. VAN CORTLANDT PARK TOUR WITH DEBORAH DOLAN Wednesday, September 28
2. STRIKES, SPLITS & LUNCH Friday, September 30
3. NOOKS & CRANNIES OF GREENWICH VILLAGE WITH ANTHONY GRIFA Tuesday, October  4
4. UPTOWN TREASURES WITH ANTHONY GRIFA Thursday, October 13
5. MYSTERIES OF CHINATOWN  IN THE YEAR OF THE TIGER WITH ANTHONY GRIFA Thursday, October 20
6. GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL TOUR Friday, October 21
7. SECRETS OF CENTRAL PARK TOUR Friday, October 28
8. TRIBUTE TO ARETHA FRANKLIN & LUNCH AT THE BOWNSTONE BUS TRIP Wednesday, November 9
9. CHRISTMAS AT THE PLAYHOUSE & LUNCH BUS TRIP Thursday, November 17

 

STATEN ISLAND

1. CENTRAL PARK TOUR WITH BOB GELBER Tuesday, September 20
2. MOHAWKS OF BROOKLYN & THE RISE OF NYC WITH DEB ZELCER Thursday, September 29
3. BROOKLYN BRIDGE TO DUMBO TOUR WITH GARY DENNIS Thursday, October 13
4. FIVE SQUARES & ONE CIRCLE WITH PHIL DESIERE Thursday, October 27

 

NEW JERSEY

1. COOK LIKE YOUR ANCESTORS: HEARTH COOKING CLASS  Thursday, September 29
2. “A LA CARTE” ART CLUB Thursday, October 13

 

WESTCHESTER/ROCKLAND/PUTNAM

1. BROADWAY MUSICAL BUS TOUR: MUSIC TOURING & ENTERTAINMENT Wednesday, September 28
2. THE BRONX: RICH IN HISTORY, DIVERSITY & MEMORIES BUS TOUR Wednesday, October 12

 

                                                                                                                                Carried

 

Motion:       To adjourn.

 

                                            Carried

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

LeRoy Barr

Secretary