Our contract has not been ratified so this has left us
vulnerable to outside forces.... OT/PT Ex Bd to chapter
The UFT leadership has always used scare tactics to suppress alternative voices. Now they are taking special advantage of the Janus decision to enforce loyalty oaths of sorts ---- Moi
There's a lot of meat packed into this post so let me start with the main Takeaways:
- UFT leadership will punish OT/PT chapter for rejecting contract by delaying re-negotiations. While everyone gets their raises, they won't - maybe for a long time.
- OT/PT chapter leader and OT/PT Chapter Ex Bd recommended ratification, at odds with rank and file which rejected contract by 66%. Seen as an instrument, as most functional chapters are, of UFT leadership.
- OT/PTs for a Fair Contract: Rank and File organizes to pressure leadership.
- OP/PT chapter Ex board engaged in McCarthyism: OT/PT Ex Bd red baits Fair Contract group as being "infiltrated by outside forces" - socialists -- shades of southern segregationists blaming outside agitators for civil rights movement. Claims they are anti-union. Hint they are being "managed" by outside forces; Fair Contract group call them out at UFT Ex Bd.
- Nurses in same bargaining unit ratified contract by 95% and then complained they weren't getting their raise despite lodging complaints about how awful their working conditions were; Asked to be separated from OT/PT; Leadership supported separating nurses- thus further isolating OT/PTs.
- Opposition caucuses and independents support OT/PTs in their struggle for a fair contract. Rally held outside Dec. DA. Reso raised.
- OT/PT for Fair Contract affirm they are pro-union at UFT Ex Bd
On November 4, 2018, when contract vote outcomes were posted, I reported:
"The OT/PT, nurses unit rejected the contract. I think the leadership will try to punish them for rejecting the contract by letting a lot of time pass so they will be not get any raises. That'll learn em for saying NO."
Mulgrew sent out a letter to the chapter. A non OT/PT CL emailed me:
