Press Release: Independent Community of Educators of the UFT Criticizes Mulgrew’s Unity Caucus Leadership and Supports Insurgent Campaigns

Friday, May 3, 2024

Posted on the ICE blog

Press Release: Independent Community of Educators of the UFT Criticizes Unity Caucus Leadership and Supports Insurgent Campaigns

(New York, NY) - The Independent Community of Educators of the UFT (ICE-UFT) issues a critical examination of the leadership of Unity Caucus of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and its President of 15 years, Michael Mulgrew. As advocates for educational equity, fair labor practices, and democratic governance, ICE-UFT voices deep concerns regarding the direction and actions of Unity Caucus under Mulgrew's leadership.

Unity Caucus, entrenched as the dominant political faction within UFT, has come under scrutiny for its lack of transparency, lack of accountability, and lack of responsiveness to the needs of educators and students. Michael Mulgrew, as the long-standing president of UFT and a prominent figure within the Unity Caucus, bears significant responsibility for the failures and shortcomings of the organization.

Our critique encompasses several key areas:

1. Lack of Teacher Empowerment: Unity Caucus and Mulgrew have stifled dissent and marginalized voices of teachers who challenge the status quo. This authoritarian approach undermines the principles of democracy and collective decision-making within the union.

2. Failure to Address Educational Inequities: Despite professing commitment to educational equity, Unity Caucus and Mulgrew have failed to effectively address systemic inequities in New York City's public schools. Issues such as resource disparities, racial segregation, and unequal access to quality education persist under their leadership.

3. Neglect of Member Concerns: Many UFT members have expressed frustration over the union's handling of grievances, contract negotiations, and other labor-related issues. Unity Caucus and Mulgrew have been criticized for prioritizing political alliances over the interests of their constituents.

4. Opposition to Progressive Reform: Unity Caucus's resistance to progressive reforms, such as empowering classroom teachers, incorporating class size limits in the contract, dynamic curriculum reform, opposing the negative effects of high stakes testing, opposing controls of schools by the mayor and increased funding for public education, reflects a disconnect from the grassroots movements advocating for meaningful change.

5. Ethical Concerns: Allegations of cronyism, conflicts of interest, and financial mismanagement have cast doubt on the integrity of Unity Caucus leadership and Michael Mulgrew.

In contrast to the status quo represented by Unity Caucus, ICE-UFT proudly supports three insurgent campaigns within the UFT:

• The Retiree Advocate Slate in the UFT Retiree Chapter election: Led by retired Chapter Leader Bennet Fischer for Retiree Chapter, fighting to preserve Medicare benefits for retired educators.
• The Fix Para Pay Slate in the UFT Paraprofessional Chapter election: Committed to securing better pay for paraprofessionals, addressing long-standing wage disparities.
  
• Ben Morgenroth for Teacher Retirement System Teacher Trustee: Advocating for the reform of Tier 6 and the establishment of independent oversight to ensure the financial well-being of active and retired members.

ICE-UFT calls for a renewed commitment to democratic principles, transparency, and accountability within UFT leadership. We urge Unity Caucus and Michael Mulgrew to heed the voices of educators, students, and community members demanding genuine reform and representation within the union.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Norm Scott, normsco@gmail. com, 917-992-3734

About the Independent Community of Educators of the UFT (ICE-UFT):

 

The Independent Community of Educators of the UFT (ICE-UFT) is a coalition of educators dedicated to advocating for educational equity, fair labor practices, and democratic governance within the United Federation of Teachers (UFT). We are committed to amplifying the voices of educators, students, and community members in shaping the future of public education in New York City. ICE-UFT has ran against Unity Caucus as part of coalition groups challenging the UFT since its founding in 2004, most recently as one of the 7 groups in the United for Change coalition. which received 44% of the working educator vote in the 2022 UFT elections. ICE-UFT leader and classroom teacher Camille Eterno led the ticket as the presidential candiate and the UFC coalition won the seven high school executive board seats with 55% of the high school teacher vote.