Thursday, February 18, 2021

STATE ED DEPARTMENT REVISES MEMO ON MANDATORY COVVID-19 TESTING

UFT pushback succeeded here but I am sure that won't matter to some of our always anti-union commenters.



30 comments:

Anonymous said...

What did the push back entail? We (Mulgrew) won’t sign in as many givebacks from our members as we agreed to for next July? Or we’ll stall School reopenings for a week or two?

Anonymous said...

WTF are they doing ?

Anonymous said...

Can anyone who comments on this blog honestly say the feel safe working for the DOE because of the advocacy of the UFT?

Anonymous said...

So since the CDC has now declared that covid-19 survival rate is around 99.5%,it makes me wonder just what would happen to society if something really serious came along? Maybe something with a survival rate of let's say 50%? This past year has been very revealing about how pathetic so many people can be.

Anonymous said...

6:33
Approximately 500,000 dead Americans in one year.
Your callous post is very revealing about you.

Anonymous said...

Come on James, should we forget about the failures?

Anonymous said...

I not a fan of Mulgrew but fact remains that in person learning has not shown schools to be superspreaders. Nearly all people coming into the building with the virus do not pass it on because of masks, social distancing and other measures. Testing program as it stands now at 20% and mandatory is working. While most of us would like to see more with more random testing this is a win for Mulgrew providing there were no givebacks.

TJL said...

Undeniable this shows the value of being in a Union. I disagree with the forced testing but this was a case of the Union successfully twisting the arms of the pols in Albany.

Look at the Post at the article where the pregnant waitress was fired for not taking the vaccine. Again, I don't like the coercion that the UFT agreed to and that we can be removed from payroll for refusing the testing. I hope the teachers who are suing win. But this shows the difference between what happens when you're on your own and when you have someone - even someone very flawed - working on your behalf.

TJL said...

Re 6:33 & 7:30: I think that could've been put a different way, but some troubling things have been revealed (or made more clear to those not paying attention) since March:
1. Indeed we're not prepared for a more lethal illness or something like an intentionally released bioweapon (Before someone says it, I've listened to/read Li-Meng Yan, I believe the lab part but not that the release/escape was intentional)
2. Globalism is disastrous; we don't manufacture enough, particularly of supplies needed in emergencies such as masks, syringes, drugs, etc.. Domestic supply chains need to be rebuilt.
3. Far too many people are willing to give up their individual liberty. Totalitarianism is running virtually unchecked. The Socialist Swedes have done more to protect the natural rights of individuals than we have and most Western democracies to boot.
4. There is a leadership vacuum; besides Anders Tegnell and Elon Musk there is next to no one with influence countering the constant drumbeat of fear. Churchill and "Keep Calm and Carry On" wouldn't stand a chance today.

TJL said...

Sorry James for the rapid-fire posts.

Here's the updated NYSED Letter: http://www.nysed.gov/common/nysed/files/programs/coronavirus/in-person-learning-sports-participation-covid-19-testing-amended.pdf

Here's Section 906 of State Law referenced in the letter:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/EDN/906

Put aside whether you're for or against the forced testing. (I point out that's a separate issue from the agreement to have at least 20% tested to open.). Where in that law is there anything allowing a "local health department" (as mentioned in the letter) to exclude a student based on not taking a diagnostic test? It does appear to allow them to require a negative test to return after an absence if the student doesn't have a doctor's note. Key phrases I see are "...a student in the public schools shows symptoms..." and "Following absence on account of illness". Nothing about subjecting the healthy to tests against their will.

Anonymous said...

I agree with TJL on liberty except.... Forced testing is not the same as forced vaccinations. It’s a Qtip up your nose and a few seconds of unpleasantness vs who knows what potential serious side effects. Why would anyone refuse to be tested if offered a test? I don’t understand it. 99.5% survival rate overall. Now narrow it down for the age 50+ teachers with asthma or other health issues. I don’t like the idea of forced anything but would anyone want the entire country refusing all types of vaccines. I’m old enough to have gotten a smallpox vaccine. Imagine if we all had refused that. I just wish people would step up and we didn’t have the government trying to force us to do any of it. It would help if scientists stopped being political hacks and acted like scientists. There’s push back against science because of it.

Anonymous said...

"Value of a union" as we are on year 12 waiting for retro with no interest and 11 months waiting for pay after being forced to work on vacation, with no resolution in sight. Excuse me if I choose not to throw bouquets art the uft.

Bronx ATR said...

FYI - Churchill was not Jesus Christ, nor was Ronald Reagan. “Discovered in a bookshop in England in the 1990’s, the image becomes iconic of the 20th century.
The words are not Winston Churchill’s, but the famous World War II poster “Keep Calm and Carry On”
Trump is our Winston Churchill, especially in his departure. Better actually, which of course is worse.

James Eterno said...

Bronx ATR hates Churchill. FYI when Churchill lost the 1945 election, he went into opposition. He didn't have his followers try to storm the capitol.

Anonymous said...

Inside scoop. Mayor is now pushing to Open High schools. Eta week before spring break or week after spring break.

Anonymous said...

WTF is the UFT actually doing to represent teachers on safety?
Their messaging is so much muffle and kerfuffle fluff.

The UFT is not a union; it is not representative of active members, so opting out won't impact on our current need for a representative union.

The UFT seems to operate, as far as I can tell, as an quasi-NGO for the Democratic party.

I am not a registered Democrat. I am an independent. I don't follow group think ideologies.

So, why I should be asked to support the Democratic party which
has at times been both anti-labor and racist against white folks?

Can you try to answer my questions rationally without bashing my comments. I am just seeking answers.

Anonymous said...

Biden supporters burned and looted our cities while Biden said nothing and Harris bailed them out of jail. You started it, James.

Anonymous said...

Is Mulgrew a batty boy for De Blasio and Cuomo?
Mulgrew should stop rubbing and kissing their batties.

Anonymous said...

High schools are opening after spring break. Done deal. Will be announced in March.

Anonymous said...

Yup, of course union not telling anyone that they are in discussions or that sats are on March 3rd and schools must give exams... Great planning there.

Anonymous said...

Just wondering how many threatening calls that Cuomo made to Mulgrew over the past year. And also- its still incredible that all the Eva Moskowitz Charter Schools have been remote since last March

Bronx ATR said...

True, when he was still in office he pushed to go right to war against the Soviet Union. Yes, Churchill has and had many admirers. Hitler held off on bombing English civilian targets in part because of that admiration (they held many of the same beliefs), Churchill didn’t hold off- he targeted German civilian sites which resulted in the Blitz - the civilian bombings in England - for which he is still well remembered for his leadership. Some people understand what Churchill was, I’m not an Obama fan, but when he was presented with a bust of Churchill he promptly sent it back to the British government. When Trump was presented with it he hugged it and put it in a place of honor in his office. Obama understood his history - both on his black and white sides - Zulus and Irishmen. Trump forgot his - German and Scottish.

Anonymous said...

Just wondering how many threatening calls that Cuomo made to Mulgrew over the past year. And also- its still incredible that all the Eva Moskowitz Charter Schools have been remote since last March

James Eterno said...

If Lord Halifax succeeds Chamberlain in 1940, do you think Britain survives alone against Germany that year?

James Eterno said...

Churchill led a wartime coalition government. Labour's Clement Atlee was the Home Secretary. That does not sound Trumpian.

Bronx ATR said...

(I don’t know if my response went through if you did just erase this one please.) Britain does not survive, with or without Churchill, without United States intervention. As for having a wartime coalition, I’ve never accused Churchill of being stupid or Trump of being intelligent. If Trump had done something similar (not just an unleashed Fauci) regarding Covid he would have won reelection. Cheers.

Anonymous said...



NY State Assembly GOP to form Cuomo ‘impeachment commission’ over nursing home scandal

https://nypost.com/2021/02/18/ny-assembly-gop-eyes-cuomo-impeachment-commission-amid-nursing-home-scandal/

Shelley said...

Speaking of Postwar Europe I recommend Tony Judt's masterwork _Postwar_.
Here, from one of the best writers writing in American English is a review you may enjoy.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2005/11/28/from-the-ashes

And, since we're "off topic", here is another from Louis Menand on a topic we often end up debating here: the unpolitical animal.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/08/30/the-unpolitical-animal

NB The opinions of these two authors are not mine. As Marx said, "Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others."

Anonymous said...

So glad I checked in today!

High schools opening1. This is great news!

Come on everyone let’s get back to normal!

Our students need us!

Anonymous said...

So you go in, I'll stay home.