We’re excited to announce that we’re launching *ABC - A Better Contract*, an election slate of independent-thinking members committed to improving quality of life for all UFT members, their families, and our students.
UFT ELECTIONS
Are you UFT? Get your friends in the know! A grass roots movement of UFT members are getting ready to run a slate for 2025 UFT Citywide elections committed to better pay! Healthcare! Pension/Retiree Benefits! Sign up today here! They are also on "X" formerly known as Twitter. ... Marianne Pizitola,
Well, the announcement just as the Delegate Assembly was starting, certainly caught me and everyone else by surprise. Shock and Awe for some.
It's not like I haven't been meeting with this group, but I'm part of an outer ring where I chip in with advice, which is mostly ignored.
I was not in favor of the ABC name - I wanted Make Union Great Again - MUGA.
I told you they don't listen to me. Thank goodness.
I felt some kind of announcement should have taken place two months ago since this group of independents and some caucus people have been meeting since early August. When I saw the announcement, at first I wasn't sure it was the right moment. But when I saw Marianne Pizzitola shared the news with her network, it dawned on me that this was a BOLD move I haven't seen from the oppo in at least a decade. Maybe 2 or 3 decades.
The attempt to appeal outside the usual circle of caucus politics and reach potential independents who often eschew both Unity and the oppo groups, is a bold move and it has some of the usual suspects upset. But we get to that another time.
I don't like stealth and thing meetings for elections taking place behind closed doors is not healthy for a democratic campaign. There are other groups that are meeting behind closed doors and I see this as a healthy move intended to get people beyond the usual oppo suspects involved. Already I see some new faces and others have been in contact with me through my network that seem interested.
What makes this group different is that there are some Unity and ex-Unity involved as you can see below with Paul Egan, Chad Hamilton and Steve Swieciki. Seventeen year teacher Katie Anskat is new to UFT politics, but in very short order has assumed a major and quite impressive role. The goal has been to attract people like her and this announcement, unlike oppo in past elections which met behind closed door, decided on a platform, candidates and campaign and sprang it all on the rest of the union, the other goal is to get more people involved in the entire process to get some new thinking. A draft platform based on the survey results will probably be offered soon for comment. As to candidates, there are none yet, so come on board.
Other differences, ABC is not about being a caucus over the long term but a group running for the 2025 UFT election and then will disband. So no caucus building but only election building.
I will have a lot more to say in coming posts. But tomorrow I'm busy with the second RTC meeting of the year, which I helped plan and the rest of the week is chemo. So follow-ups may be delayed. Oh, and btw, I saw Rent at the Rockaway Theatre Company twice this weekend and am going back next Sunday. Not many tickets left:
November 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 29, 30 @ 8PM
November 17, 24, 30 Dec 1 @ 2 PM
Here is the ABC announcement:
A Better Contract - A UFT Movement Powered by All of Us
A grassroots movement of UFT members to run new slate for the 2025 UFT citywide elections committed to better pay, healthcare, pension/retiree benefits and working conditions.
Good afternoon.
We’re part of the group that published the Our Union Our Voice survey in August and more recently the petitions opposing mandated scripted programs disguised as curriculum and strongly supporting electronic voting in our union elections.
Last month, we also organized and facilitated the first-ever Member Assembly meeting for UFT members, with our next meeting planned for December.
The response has been overwhelming — nearly 1,200 members surveyed, over 1,600 petitions signatures collected, and 150+ in attendance for the first Member Assembly — *and we have heard you*.
Based on your feedback, we’re excited to announce that we’re launching *ABC - A Better Contract*, an election slate of independent-thinking members committed to improving quality of life for all UFT members, their families, and our students.
Our slate will broadly focus on four core commitments:
Making better pay that you deserve a top priority and protecting and improving healthcare and pension/retirement benefits
Demonstrably improving working conditions and regaining and protecting freedom to make decisions as a professional
Building a stronger, more responsive union that is member-driven
Supporting and defending public education from any and all attempts at privatization and reduced funding
We’ll be posting our full platform and much more in the days ahead.
In the meantime, we’re putting out the call for any and all UFT members — both in-service and retirees — who want to make transformative change happen in the DOE and UFT.
Please take a moment to check out our landing page to see how you can get involved:
Stay updated at:
And follow us at:
In solidarity,
Katie Anskat, Queens Metropolitan HS Delegate
katieharten@gmail.com
Paul Egan, PS/MS 194 Chapter Leader
Egan10980@gmail.com
Chad Hamilton P.S. K231 Chapter Leader
chadhamilton231@gmail.com
Steve Swieciki, Lehman High School Chapter Leader
uft.swieciki@gmail.com
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