If we really want to do well in the UFT election, NOW is the time to really start to work.
ICE wrote a brand new leaflet at our last meeting which was in part a response to the Unity campaign ad that was in the March 4 NY Teacher. The campaign to distribute our current leaflet has been fairly successful. We are reaching schools we have never been to before. We have received very positive feedback.
Meanwhile, Unity has taken the unprecedented step of changing their ad from one NY Teacher edition to the next.
We were not given the option to change our ad but Unity has a brand new one in the March 18 edition. They will do anything to maximize their vote including changing the rules in the middle of the election. We must now do what we can to get our vote out.
Word of mouth publicity can't be beat. We need to talk to everyone we know and tell them to vote for the ICE-TJC slate. Many UFT ballots are probably underneath the census in the mail pile at people's homes. Members are busy people; they may need some encouragement to vote, particularly since the ballot looks so complicated. Tell everyone you know who is a UFT member to vote ICE-TJC and ask them to call all of their friends to do the same. It's up to all of us now to make this work.
Inform them that all they have to do vote for all ICE-TJC candidates is put an X in the box for ICE-TJC, make no other marks, put the ballot in the secret ballot envelope and then place that envelope in the return envelope. Then mail it.
If someone hasn't received a ballot yet, they need to call 1 (800) 529-5218 by 5:00 p.m. on March 30. The ballot must reach American Arbitration Association by April 6.
Quote from our leaflet if someone needs persuading. You might be surprised by how many people haven't voted yet if you walk around your school or make some phone calls and ask.
A strong ICE-TJC get out the vote drive could make all the difference in the world.
2 comments:
I walked around my school today and some people didn't even know there was a UFT election going on.
Hi,
As you enjoy your break consider finding that pink envelope the American Arbitration Association sent you. If you do, I recommend you vote for the ICE/TJC slate.
(As a disclaimer, know that I am running for one of the at-large positions, my name is buried deep in there somewhere, but if you vote the slate it will count for me).
My reasons for joining ICE/TJC are the following:
1. ICE/TJC are for democratic unionism. Unity is machine politics and back room deals with the mayor. Now that the mayor has spit in their faces they are in a state of shock.
2. ICE/TJC have a vision for democratic schools where teachers have rights as professionals. Unity believes in nothing other than more dues, double pensions for their staff and patronage jobs.
3. ICE/TJC are for digging in and preparing for confrontation. Unity has been the "if you can't beat 'em join'em" party. Randi was way too cozy with Bloomberg. Mulgrew is all chest-beating. HE HAS NO PLAN.
Unity has painted us into a corner with one accommodating contract after another. We cannot postpone the day of reckoning, for every year we do our position only gets worse and worse.
We need to call these so called ed reforms like Charter Schools and NCLB and Race to the Top for what they are: UNION BUSTING. And union busting is CLASS WARFARE.
We must show other working New Yorkers that our fight is theirs. That, if they want a future for their children with rights on the job and a decent standard of living, the fight must start now. We are the standard bearers. If we collapse there will be no organized group out there to replace us.
Voting for ICE/TJC is taking that first important step to moving forward.
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