Monday, August 03, 2020

CUOMO COMMENTS ON POSSIBLE TEACHER STRIKES

Governor Andrew Cuomo is quoted in State of Politics on the return of teachers to the classroom:

Teachers are concerned," Cuomo said. "Some of them are older. They're in the more vulnerable populations. They don't have the same level of comfort."

Cuomo said he hoped strikes would be avoided over the reopening plans, which were submitted in detail on Friday by local school districts around the state. A final decision on reopening is expected this week and hinges on an infection rate in a region below 5 percent over a sustained period of time. 

"If the union and the teachers aren't comfortable they aren't going to show up," Cuomo said. "No one wants to force people to go to work. This is about common sense and public health."

On New York City's reopening plan:

Cuomo, meanwhile, has criticized New York City school officials for being slow off the block on submitting its reopening plan for schools.


There are more details in the NY Post coverage.

The Cuomo administration is giving Mayor Bill de Blasio a lousy grade for his schools reopening plan.

The tardy 32-page plan Hizzoner submitted to state officials on Friday looks more like “an outline” than a comprehensive vision and is tiny compared to those of other school districts, a senior Cuomo official said Sunday.

“It’s about 30 pages,” said Jim Malatras, senior Cuomo aide and current president of SUNY Empire State College, told reporters.

“Other plans that have been submitted are much more detailed from first glance,” he added, noting the Big Apple has over one million students.

“Yonkers school district has 39 schools, 27,000 students and [its plan is] about 80 pages long. The Albany city school district has 10,000 students; that [plan] has about 60 pages, 70 pages worth of details.”

Keep that rank and file pressure up. It is making a difference.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

MOREcaucusUFT
is marching from
@UFT
headquarters to Tweed this afternoon.

Anonymous said...

I cant go to a gym with 10 people, cant go inside a pizza place, but 1.2 million students and 200K employees can interact, all ages, health issues, etc.

Anonymous said...

Teachers will march in a rally but won't go in to schools.

James Eterno said...

Chicago teachers are calling for a car caravan for this August 3 action unlike MORE.

Anonymous said...

UFT will not organize a strike in any shape or form. Mulgrew will not allow it. Wildcat perhaps just like what almost happened in March. If there is any "job action", it will be organized online via a group of teachers not affiliated with the Unity caucus.

Anonymous said...

Even with a 1% infection rate, that means in a school of 1200, at least 12 people are positive. 99.9999999999999999999999999999999999 infinite percent of people don't hijack planes, but we still have to go through body scanners at the airport. 1% is still too high and why are students allowed to eat in the classroom, but people can't dine inside in NYC yet?

Anonymous said...

James,

I just wanted to post a comment to say thank you for your tireless efforts and for also being a great hub of information that may have otherwise slipped through the cracks.

Anonymous said...

Why is no one talking about colleagues that are not practicing social distancing? There are many people at my school posting pics of themselves at party after party, hanging out with friends, hugging etc all without masks. Do we have the right to bring up these concerns and have them listened to? I am so uncomfortable with knowing how some people are just not taking this seriously and jeopardizing both my family and my students by doing so.

Anonymous said...

Nobody trusts the DOE to implement and enforce their re-opening plan.
The DOE has a track record of ineffective leadership.

The parents know it. The teachers know it The principals know it.

No one will show up top the schools in September.

Anonymous said...

A strike would be a waste of time. First, any teacher I have spoken to does not want to strike. This will divide us. Second, those that do will not have the stomach to stick to a strike that is costing 2 days of pay for every 1 day of striking. After about 10 days you can basically kiss your retro goodbye since it would be equivalent. Lastly, Mulgrew is not going to want to sit in jail while this happens. We have no leverage when striking because we will not be unified or in it for the long haul. Those that keep yelling for a strike do it because they have no other plan. Instead, we need to keep pushing the lack of safety narrative, how NJ's numbers are going up, and other inevitable outbreaks when other schools around the country open up. Forget the strike idea, no one is buying it.

James Eterno said...

It is not a strike as defined in the Taylor law as teachers are fully willing to work from home. The 2 for 1 penalties during a pandemic and throwing union leaders in jail for refusing to work in dangerous buildings will more than likely not happen. Mulgrew should be preparing rank and file now.

Anonymous said...

Prefer covid or gunshots? We must stay home. 20 victims shot, one fatally, in bloody Sunday across NYC

Anonymous said...

Stop worrying, the DOE will miss the deadline with incomplete plans. Cuomo will keep the schools closed with other Democrat governors to screw Trump. Mr. Potato Head, aka the Cabbage, Biden, has a real chance to win. Crime should sky rocket even higher this fall with the schools closed. It isn’t the Covid that’s keeping teachers from wanting to return, it’s the DOE, students, administration and NYC lack of transportation and parking.

Anonymous said...

Anno 1:20 is the biggest Karen of all time. Are you that miserable and fear driven that you have your panties in a bunch because your fellow colleagues are actually enjoying their summer vacation? For the love of God, go crack a beer and go for a walk. Put your stupid cellphone down and live a little ok? Pretty soon we are all going to be sent back into our hellhole schools in a few weeks. Might as well have as much fun as possible before the shitshow starts. (And if you are a man, you are a totally doofus. I don't know what a male Karen is called. Ha!)

Anonymous said...

I agree with the person you insult as a Karen. This is serious and what 2:54 is doing will lead to another spread of the virus.I think I can say what you and the people taking pictures and drinking at parties without masks and social distancing are: assholes. Normally, I wouldn't care but your stupidity could infect me or my elderly relatives.

Anonymous said...

We are not going back in a few weeks. 2:64 is stupidity personified.

Anonymous said...

I mean 2:54.

Anonymous said...

If I should die while teaching under unsafe conditions, please remember me as a teacher who made sure her students had all the tools to stand up for themselves

Anonymous said...

Schools in New York City remain closed until it is safe for us to return. We will not die for the DOE.

Anonymous said...


Chancellor Richard A. Carranza
@DOEChancellor

We all know that the 2020-21 school year will be like none other. Our teams have been working 24/7 to provide information on everything from lunch to live instruction, from testing to teaching, and so much more. Families—find it all at http://schools.nyc.gov/returntoschool2020

We are reinventing almost every part of what it means to be a student, staff member, or teacher. We released a huge amount of info to families—our most important audience—before submitting dozens of pages to the State last week, and there’s more where that came from.

For every piece of guidance we provide, we know a question emerges. That’s the nature of the beast in the time of COVID-19. But we won’t stop now in the work to develop and share everything our families need to know. Check http://schools.nyc.gov for the latest every day.

Anonymous said...

@NYCMayor

@DOEChancellor
Wow look at that. My school doesnt even have an HVAC system.
Find out if yours does here: http://survey.nycsca.org/bcas/?bldg=X189

Anonymous said...

Hearing parents talk about school reopening and NOT taking into account the safety of teachers is so deeply frustrating. Teachers are not heroes. They are (often underpaid) professionals who shouldn’t put themselves at risk because our government is failing (all of us!)

Anonymous said...

I am all for the caravan to Mulgrew's house.

Anonymous said...

Trust this mayor with your safety? But hey, grad rate best ever! This repeat criminal arrested in June for threatening police. Arrested again in July for slashing someone in the face. And yet, he was back on the street last week, when he was arrested for robbery, among other things. But hey—our jail population is lower than ever!

Anonymous said...

Where is Shelly?
Anyone know how Shelly is?

This whole thing boils down to "Trust" in your employer that will follow the rules they put forth and produce just like teacher's have to follow the rules to prove their worth time and time again against Danielson. If our people worked together and respected each other we would have "Trust" in each other to do the right thing for students and employees.

Too bad things got so bad in March, our very lives were wagered with when sending us into infected buildings.
If only....
Things might be different now.

Cause and Effect

Jeff said...

Just get parents to not send kids. Problem solved.

Anonymous said...

My school doesnt even have an HVAC system.

Where do you find it… I opened all three docs and i don’t see it and don’t know where to look.

Thanks

Anonymous said...

@UCBerkeley
: All classes to be remote.

The. right. call.

This is strength/leadership, vs. weakness/denial--in-person classes to protect cash flows. Enough already

waitingforsupport said...

@3:42...I hope you live a long healthy life. It's disgusting that you even have this fear. I will pray for you and your loved ones. Stay safe. PS On behalf of your students let me say thank you.

Anonymous said...

No one has to concern themselves about a strike.

It's about safety. If it's not safe, remote is the only solution.

It's unfortunately, but it's for everyone safety, regardless of age and health.

Anonymous said...

Yes, it states in the contract that we can't be forced to do something that puts our health or safety at risk. We need to all stand up to our principals. Don't allow students to eat in class.

Anonymous said...

https://nypost.com/2020/08/03/another-teachers-union-group-rips-plan-to-reopen-nyc-schools/
apparently there was a protest today at uft headquarters, who knew?

johnny said...

Yes. Absolutely. I see it on a regular basis. Definitely a problem.

johnny said...

I agree too. No one is telling you not to "party" if that's what YOUR panties are all in a bunch about. But while you're at it frat boy, you can keep it down to a few people and wear a mask.

Anonymous said...

@9:46 PM - Remote full-time. School buildings are not safe.