Written and edited by Norm Scott:
EDUCATE! ORGANIZE!! MOBILIZE!!!
Three pillars of The Resistance – providing information on current ed issues, organizing activities around fighting for public education in NYC and beyond and exposing the motives behind the education deformers. We link up with bands of resisters. Nothing will change unless WE ALL GET INVOLVED IN THE STRUGGLE!
The UFT Para functional chapter is the second largest block in the UFT after the 60K retiree chapter. Chapter elections are every three years, with the next one being spring 2024. But the recent chapter leader Shelvy Abrams, a very strong leader, has left a void and some hurt feelings inside Unity Caucus as to her hand-chosen successor will be. There was unhappiness and calls for an interim election and that is currently taking place, I assume for the next year until regular elections next year. If the para and retiree chapters were ever to desert Unity, their control of the functional chapters and the UFT itself would be threatened. And with loss of support of retirees over Mulgrewcare, there is a lot at stake in this election for the leadership.
Some of the people running are or were in Unity Caucus. Former Unity people seem to have become active opponents. Here are the campaign leaflets I've seen so far. If they win, that would be a major shakeup. But even if they don't and make a dent in what has been overwhelming support for Unity, that would be worrisome for the leadership which would have to deliver some goodies for paras.in the upcoming contract.
AFTER READING THIS, please share and discuss this with your para friends.
WE
are running to give paras a voice in the union, to work honestly and
fairly to represent all paras and fight to improve many things from
better pay to improving working conditions. Currently the union is
negotiating and asking for a FAIR contract. We are asking for a FAIR
election process, but we are finding we are not in a FAIR and clean
election. We will be sharing what we have been experiencing, which is
all 100% true, honest and we have documentation and proof of everything
we will be sharing with you. Transparency is important for you to know
what's really going on and what you should look for in your chapter
leaders.
MOST OFFENSIVE
One of our candidates was told by her District Rep that:
Nominating
Petitions could not be sent in as the directions stated on the
nominating petitions, but instead only go through her only and if not
that the paras in that school won't be counted,
as the para CANT submit the petitions. VERY SCARY, VERY WRONG!! Oh, and we have proof, SADLY this really happened.
PETITIONS:
UNITY
used its District Representatives to circulate nominating petitions for
our chapter elections in every school. Did some of them do it during
work hours, WHICH IS AGAINST UNION RULES.
The
petitions had UNITY candidates' names, and positions preprinted on them
and many of them were very dark copies. Paras where told to sign their
petitions even though all the candidates information was not filled out
at the time they signed them. Would you sign a contract with more than
half the information missing?
Did
UNITY send these to a union print shop or was it done at UFT during
work hours? For us, all that raises concerns about fairness and
accessibility.
It is
important for the electoral process to be conducted in a transparent and
equitable manner, with all candidates given an equal opportunity to
participate and compete for office. It is important for all candidates
and their supporters to respect the rights and needs of others and to
conduct themselves in a manner that is respectful and constructive.
It
is also important for the union leadership to take steps to ensure that
the electoral process is conducted in a fair and transparent manner and
that all candidates are given an equal opportunity to participate. This
may include setting clear rules and regulations governing the conduct
of campaigns and ensuring that all candidates are provided with equal
access to resources and support. As candidates we were never told after
we handed in our petitions if we made the ballot. We noticed our
opposition was now campaigning, as we assume they received notice, but
we did not. We emailed the election chairperson to find out of our
position. Where are the rules of this election?
SHAME SHAME SHAME
Afterburn
Yesterday on my way to the big rally
of municipal workers I ran into a friend on the ferry who has been
connected to the opposition on the edges for years. He told me how he
was a Unity Caucus member for a few months. As a new teacher and chapter
leader he assumed the union would protect him and when they didn't he
figured joining Unity might help. His District Rep did not recruit him
because he knew he was the kind of guy to speak out and thought that
would embarrass him but someone else in Unity brought him in. He went to
2 meetings and he DR made sure to sit next to him to try to control
him. The DR told him every time the boro rep says something, he should
raise his hand. My friend said WTF and walked out forever.
On Tuesday, 4/11/23, at 12:00 PM, a rally is scheduled at City Hall
in support of keeping traditional public Medicare. Retired and
in-service members alike are urged to attend. Numbers matter. Show the
City we aren’t going to just roll over and let them privatize our
healthcare.
And don't forget to sign the Let us Vote Petition. Arthur wrote about it:
Activism Is Circulating the Petition
-
Activism is what we, as unionists, do. Right now I'm very excited about the
petition demanding we get a voice in decisions regarding our health care.
THIS IS A CALL TO RALLY FOR US
TO BE HEARD! TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! AFTERWARDS, WE WILL BE ATTENDING
THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING & URGING THEM TO INTRODUCE OUR PROPOSED
BILL!!
BRING YOUR LOVED ONES, THIS AFFECTS THEM TOO! THIS
RALLY IS FOR RETIREES AND RETIREES IN TRAINING (In-service/active
workers). THIS IS YOUR HEALTHCARE THE MUNICIPAL LABOR COMMITTEE
- DOMINATED BY THE UFT AND DC37, AGREED TO DIMINISH. ELIMINATING ALL
OUR CHOICE OF HEALTH PLANS AND FORCING US INTO PRIVATIZED MANAGED
CARE IS ANTI LABOR AND UN-AMERICAN. MEDICARE IS A PUBLIC HEALTH
BENEFIT!
EMBLEM HEALTH GHI IS ALSO A UNION COMPANY (and non profit), IS AETNA?
ACTIVE
WORKER PLAN CHANGES ARE COMING! YOU JUST GOT HIT WITH MORE CO PAYS!
THE MLC SOLD OFF YOUR FUTURE BENEFITS! AND THREW SENIORS/DISABLED UNDER
THE BUS!
SEE YOU TUESDAY!
Dress comfortable, bring a snack, and be prepared to be with us all day. We have the rally and then the Council meeting.
Click HERE to send a letter to the Comptroller Brad Lander and tell him to OBJECT to the AETNA Contract!
A blow to the corporate wing of the Democratic Party
Left leadership in Chicago and LA outflank corp Dem type UFT leadership in NYC as CTU elects one of its own as mayor while UFT suffers 30 years of failed mayoral endorsements.
Happy Easter Sunday,
It's a beautiful day and I have to put on my Easter bonnet and go roll some eggs, so I will make this quick without my usual convoluted meanderings.
The subject of the week for many of us has not been the Trump indictment, or even the Wisconsin Supreme Court election (over-hyped in that the Republican controlled legislature can impeach the judge), but the remarkable mayoral victory of former Chicago teacher and CTU organizer Brandon Johnson, the new mayor of Chicago. That would be like one of the UFT special reps becoming mayor -- OK, LOL yourself to death. Oh, one top level UFT employee did run for office - in the primary against Robert Jackson. one of our major supporters in the state senate.
(James is giving me tech lessons he learns from his daughter.)
Considering, its sort of funny how Sam Seder never addresses the UFT or local union issues (except for Amazon or Starbucks) while he covers union issues on a broader level. The newbie union movements are always sexier than the old staid unions tied to the corporate wing of the Dem Party, like the UFT. Delving into how undemocratic and corrupt they are can lead people to use that to promote anti-unionism, a card our own beloved union leadership tries to pull on the opposition to shut them up.
But with the Brandon victory (oh, did he mess up those Trumpie Let's Go Brandon chants), Sam's partner Emma V addressed the victory - twice this week. I'm hoping to get MR to do more on the comparison of the left teacher unions in LA and Chicago compared to the center right/anti-strike, anti-Democratic, Republican talking points UFT. Did RTC chapter head Tom Murphy screaming at the people who put up 3 signs in back of Tuesday's RTC meeting and calling for security and threatening to end the meeting remind you of Tennessee Republicans? (RetireeTeacherChapter Meeting - the Horror of Holding up a sign).
On Wednesday, Emma pointed to how the deck was stacked against Johnson - Police vs Teachers? Come on! The Chamber of Commerce, the Arne Duncan (who succeeded Vallas as Chi school head) and was Obama ed chief public school destroyer) crowd, including anti-leftist Obama working strings from behind the curtain? Yet Johnson got 80% of the black vote and built coalitions with many other groups, including the Working Families Party. Remember how the UFT did Cuomo's bidding and abandoned the WFP here in NYC years ago.
Jarod Facundo and Luke Goldstein, writing fellows at The American Prospect, join Emma Vigeland to discuss Brandon Johnson's unapologetically left-wing campaign for Chicago mayor, his rejection of the Chicago political establishment, and what his victory represents for progressivism across the nation.
They explain how Johnson even found himself in this runoff against establishment candidate Paul Vallas, after entering the race barely above 2%, and the role of local organizations like the Chicago Teachers Union and United Working Families in his success. Also, the positive impact of Johnson's riskier policy strategies, presenting a wide breadth of solutions to the voters’ public safety worries rather than taking a “tough on crime” tact.
Full interview with Jarod Facundo and Luke Goldstein: https://www.youtube.com/live/iyPmcmmF...
A definite must listen on how Johnson built a coalition and outpolled the incumbent and even Chewy Garcia who is well-known.
On Friday, there was a shorter segment with Alex Pareene, who is often a guest on MR. We loved
The
Chicago mayoral election between Brandon Johnson and Paul in some ways
came down to teachers union vs police union. Guess who won? Johnson, who
was backed by the teachers!
There is more to it than teachers vs cops but it was a close election and Johnson does not win for sure without the CTU.
The
analysis from Emma Vigeland and her guest Alex Pareene on Friday's
Majority Report should be played over and over to NYC teachers who feel
powerless. We can be just as powerful as the CTU. We just have to
remember we are a union and stand up for ourselves collectively.
Emma
said it perfectly: "Can you imagine if New York City had a teachers'
union as powerful as Chicago? Wouldn't that be awesome?"
I've been asked to write an article comparing the teacher unions in the biggest three cities in the nation and that will take a deep dive into history.
In the meantime I have to prep for tomorrow's RA organizer meeting with a rep from a State Senator who supports the NY Health Act, which the UFT opposes -- why back a public health plan when you can funnel money private corporations?
URGENT CALL TO ACTION - RALLY FOR OUR HEALTHCARE - APRIL 11, 12 PM AT CITY HALL
WE ARE THE UNION. WE CAN. WE WILL.
Dear friend,
Our allies, NYCOrganization of PublicServiceRetirees have put out this urgent call to action for a rally at City Hall this coming Tuesday, April 11, at 12 PM, to all city retirees and all active city workers:
**************
"This is a call to rally for us to be heard! Time is of the essence!
Bring your loved ones. This affects them too! This rally is for retirees and retirees in training (in-service/active workers).
This
is your healthcare that the Municipal Labor Committee - dominated by
the UFT and DC37, agreed to diminish. eliminating all our health plans
and forcing us into Medicare Advantage. This is anti-labor and
Un-American.
Medicare is a public health benefit! Be there with us!"
*************
In light of the unilateral decisions to force retired civil servants and essential workers who dedicated their lives in service to New York City into a diminished healthcare network and the MLC's secret, undisclosed proposed changes to active worker healthcare, its time we galvanize together to tell the City, and those who represent us, that we stand UNITED FOR OUR PREMIUM-FREE, QUALITY HEALTHCARE.
Make plans to attend this coming Tuesday. We need everyone there.
The Petition train continues to trail blaze. OVER +5K UFT members have signed it already.
Almost 3 weeks ago, together we successfully launched our member-wide referendum petition campaign
calling for a membership-wide vote for any significant changes to
active and/or retired members’ healthcare. These include any significant
changes of our healthcare carriers, limits to our choice of healthcare
carriers, or institutions of or raises to premiums, deductibles or
copayments, etc.
We also
demand that UFT members must be provided full disclosure of the wording
for such proposed changes, prior to the membership wide vote.
We continue
to vigorously move the needle to garner the 10% of member signatures
needed to trigger the UFT constitutional mandate compelling the UFT
executive board to bring a member-wide referendum vote to all members.
On Tuesday, April 18, at 7 pm we will have an organizing call for all those who want to help in reaching our goal of +20K signatures. To RSVP for our first Zoom organizing call, click here. We will map out a winning strategy together.
One vital way you can help is sharing this referendum with your UFT member contacts and networks.
Send an email to colleagues and friends. Better yet, call or send them a text.
Organize a petition drive at your school.
Share the website [hcpetition.educators.nyc] on your favorite social media networks, message apps and internet group sites.
Also, make a donationto
help cover the costs we are incurring for web hosting, the e-signature
and e-mailing platforms, postage and miscellaneous administrative costs.
Tell us if
you can host a petition signing event at a venue of your choice. We
will be announcing these signing pop-up events soon on our site and
newsletter.
