SHORT VERSION OF PRESIDENT MULGREW'S WNYC APPEARANCE: UFT WILL DEAL WITH THE LACK OF SAFETY ONE SCHOOL AT A TIME IF MAYOR OPENS SCHOOL BUILDINGS

I listened very carefully to UFT President Michael Mulgrew parsing his words on the Brian Lehrer show on WNYC. You can listen to the show or read our last post for all of the details. Mulgrew had to answer tougher questions than the prescreened creampuff questions that get through the UFT screeners at town halls and Delegate Assemblies but Leher and the callers were still generally very friendly.

For me, there was only one part that needs to be dissected closely. After Mulgew talked tough by saying that schools aren't going to open if we don't feel it's safe, he was pressed on what he would do if the mayor opened the schools but the UFT didn't believe they were safe. Mulgrew then totally backed off.

Lehrer:  Given teacher concerns, there are many including an earlier caller who do not feel the union is being tough enough. Are you concerned about a strike or a sickout taking place if schools open with the hybrid model?

Mulgrew: We're not going to open if we don't feel it's safe. That is why we are doing as much planning for fully remote learning. Members are concerned after what we went through. We had to get into a streetfight with the mayor to get schools closed. We're preparing for social distancing and complete remote. We learned a lot. We did it on our own. We want to make it better. There will be a lot of remote teaching no matter what happens.

Lehrer: Should I take it as a strike threat if the city doesn't prepare sufficiently?

Mulgrew: No, we still have a month to go. I would say a 60% chance we will be fully remote. We don't have the funding. Big fight over the Heroes Act. The virus is raging out of control nationally. Governor was smart by putting in clear unambiguous plans. Need to meet numbers and have a safety plan. If they don't have the safety plan, we will do everything in our power to make sure that a school doesn't open and put children and teachers at risk.

I listened, again and again, to make sure I understood clearly. It will be school-by-school in deciding what to do. Mulgrew definitely said if a school doesn't have a safety plan, we will try to make sure that a particular school doesn't open. All of the schools will have plans. The problem is the plans will not, or in many cases cannot, be implemented properly. We all know that.

Does anyone have any idea as to how long it could take to close just one school if we follow Mulgrew's advice?  "We will do everything in our power to make sure a school doesn't open..." most probably means a lawsuit. How long will that take? There will be numerous buildings where safety plans will be ignored. What will happen? We need to push the UFT/city further, much further, if we are not going to repeat what occurred in March where so many of our colleagues became infected with coronavirus due to UFT inaction coupled with DOE, I'll be kind here, incompetence.