Friday, May 3, 2024
Posted on the ICE blog
(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.
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