tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post114874143353041713..comments2024-03-07T15:25:26.971-05:00Comments on ICEUFT Blog: Without Adequate Representation You Will Lose Your U-Rating AppealJeff Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11728874415155394751noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1152269287650343292006-07-07T06:48:00.000-04:002006-07-07T06:48:00.000-04:00These DOE hearings are much like the Gitmo militar...These DOE hearings are much like the Gitmo military tribunals, or the Catholic priest molestation "investigations;" they seem to operate in their own bubble, outside the law of the U.S. And the only advice you ever get from the UFT is that "You have no rights." I'm pretty sick of hearing that I have no rights. The union is part of the problem, not part of the solution. Where does my 80 bucks a month go? Into the pockets of the union fat cats.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1150543055626708642006-06-17T07:17:00.000-04:002006-06-17T07:17:00.000-04:00I have been following your blog for a while now an...I have been following your blog for a while now and felt compelled to finally comment. I am a teacher, but not in NYC. It appears the biggest problem in the entire U rating and appeal process is that it does not adequately provide for due process under the law. I wonder if a case could be made for violation of due process based upon your descriptions of how the game is fixed? Of course this would take a person with standing to challenge and alot of money, maybe the ACLU would take it on?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1150428986833642862006-06-15T23:36:00.000-04:002006-06-15T23:36:00.000-04:00Yeah, how is it you know who should be Queens HS D...Yeah, how is it you know who should be Queens HS DR. Although you clearly know "who the most experienced and knowledgeable candidate" is, if your in District 14 you were never in a HS! What do you know about Queens and High Schools other than James Eterno is probably your freind? It seems that your greatest interst is your political party's political interest, not that of the Queens HS members.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1150343596093765562006-06-14T23:53:00.000-04:002006-06-14T23:53:00.000-04:00All this sounds very discouraging. I have just re...All this sounds very discouraging. I have just recieved a U rating which I believe to be unfounded. What can I be doing do improve the chances that my appeal passes? What concrete suggestions can you give me in preparing for an appeal?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1150254107551790542006-06-13T23:01:00.000-04:002006-06-13T23:01:00.000-04:00What's funny about Norm's exertions is that he is ...What's funny about Norm's exertions is that he is so self-sacrificing - postpone retirement to be DR to show "how the job should be done"- golly gee!(Now I certainly want your opinion about anything)!<BR/><BR/>He obviously also know who should be DR because he knows who "is clearly the most experienced and knowledgeable candidate". He is so well versed in the High Schools and in the all of the candidates that he knows exactly what is best for us.<BR/><BR/>Thanks, but no thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1150082908683622552006-06-11T23:28:00.000-04:002006-06-11T23:28:00.000-04:00Norm, I don't think anyone was wondering about whe...Norm, I don't think anyone was wondering about whether you "attended a U-rating hearing" because Jeff Kaufman wrote this post. Or was it you that wrote this Norm and Jeff posted it?<BR/><BR/>If it were really Jeff, it is still very unclear as to whether Jeff was just "there" like you were for the aftermath or as an advocate for the member as he insinuated on "Sunday, June 04, 2006 1:35:06 PM".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1150078763654865182006-06-11T22:19:00.000-04:002006-06-11T22:19:00.000-04:00Thanks Norm. Tracking device and all you know who...Thanks Norm. Tracking device and all you know who we all are.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1150078073294850142006-06-11T22:07:00.000-04:002006-06-11T22:07:00.000-04:00I think you meant this:New York Post's NEW YORK'S ...I think you meant this:<BR/><BR/>New York Post's <BR/><BR/>NEW YORK'S PENSION PERIL <BR/><BR/>www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/67144Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1150077953433069172006-06-11T22:05:00.000-04:002006-06-11T22:05:00.000-04:00I think you meant this:New York Post's NEW YORK'S ...I think you meant this:<BR/><BR/>New York Post's <BR/><BR/>NEW YORK'S PENSION PERIL <BR/><BR/>http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/67144.htmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1150036136711522492006-06-11T10:28:00.000-04:002006-06-11T10:28:00.000-04:00Mr. Eterno has about the same chance of being Quee...Mr. Eterno has about the same chance of being Queens DR as the average teacher has in winning a "U" rating appeal ---- Less than 2%Chazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09964739497720364749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1149997980841530532006-06-10T23:53:00.000-04:002006-06-10T23:53:00.000-04:00Anon who keeps asking for me (Are you lonely tonig...Anon who keeps asking for me (Are you lonely tonight?):<BR/> How do I know who you are? We have a special tracking device attached to your computer so only you are not anonymous. I would advise you to be careful about posting here. It is time to let you know that Jeff Kaufman doesn't really exist and is just a figment of your imagination. We are sending you for a DOE psychiatric exam for paranoia. Report on July 4 at 12am or lose your pension.<BR/><BR/>To people concerned about whether I attended a U-rating hearing:<BR/> I said that I was not allowed in until right after the hearing. Ed Farrel had asked me to be there. There were 3 witnesses - Ed, the UFT rep and another person who was helping Ed. I spoke about what happened at that evening's Exec bd meeting.<BR/> As to how hard some UFT reps work - it just can't be compared to teaching even if you work 12 hour days. But I know that DR's do so much "political" work for the UFT and defending members often takes 2nd place to, say, informing people how horribly John Stossel treated Randi.<BR/><BR/>To HRA: Let the UFT use full-time people as U-rating advocates and truly investigate instead of using them as political advocates of Unity Caucus. When I was chapter leader the DR came to each month's meeting with a laundry list of things for us to do. We never had time to discuss what was going on in our schools and how to deal with them on a broad level. I hear that most DR meetings today are the same way with some exceptions. <BR/><BR/>By the way, in June 2002 I offered not to retire and take the Dist. 14 DR position to demonstrate how the job could be done to represent the interests of the teachers to the union hierarchy and not vice versa. For some reason I wasn't chosen (Randi had just cancelled DR elections.) So I started doing a citywide version of Ed Notes instead. I should say that there are a some DR's that do a good job. But I still think if they were elected they would all be more responsible to the members. But personal loyalty to the leadership is a higher priority.<BR/><BR/>James Eterno recently applied for the DR Queens HS position. He is clearly the most experienced and knowledgable candidate. Anyone want to bet on his chances?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1149951415381249142006-06-10T10:56:00.000-04:002006-06-10T10:56:00.000-04:00Norm?Norm?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1149871142647296532006-06-09T12:39:00.000-04:002006-06-09T12:39:00.000-04:00Our own beloved Princess Randi is supplying the ev...Our own beloved Princess Randi is supplying the evil empire (klein, bloomberg, doe) the materials to build their deathstar to wipe out classroom teachers. That is no distraction. The classroom teachers are fighting two battles. <BR/>Bloomberg is Randi's father. She has gone to the darkside! And she ain't comin' back!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1149821376204084862006-06-08T22:49:00.000-04:002006-06-08T22:49:00.000-04:00Hey that's true. Was Jeff the member's advocate o...Hey that's true. Was Jeff the member's advocate or just a bystander?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1149821225223615222006-06-08T22:47:00.000-04:002006-06-08T22:47:00.000-04:00Norm?Norm?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1149737726878714622006-06-07T23:35:00.000-04:002006-06-07T23:35:00.000-04:00North Brooklyn-In terms of my tone, I think it’s q...North Brooklyn-<BR/><BR/>In terms of my tone, I think it’s quite measured considering some of the comments on this blog. I work all day, every day, sometimes into the night, to protect my members against the injustices perpetrated against them by the DOE and their evil minions. I see other DR’s and UFT personnel doing the same. These are very difficult times for us both as educators and union members. We’re under attack all across the country. Instead of allowing yourself to be distracted into attacking your own union leadership, you should be joining with us to fight the real enemy: Bloomberg, Klein and the whole DOE bureaucracy.<BR/><BR/>Norm:<BR/><BR/>I’m shocked to hear that a hearing office discussed a U rating case with you. What was that about? It’s totally inappropriate for a hearing officer to violate confidentiality with an unauthorized person. Obviously, I cannot speak to the ‘case’ you describe as I know nothing about it. I do know, contrary to your ‘ashamed’, but quoted advocate, that no one is told, “to make a deal even if the teacher loses.” Surely, even you acknowledge that the UFT has every reason to fight as hard as it can for its members. There would be no good purpose to do otherwise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1149648159029261872006-06-06T22:42:00.000-04:002006-06-06T22:42:00.000-04:00Here is our real threat:City's Pension Cut Proposa...Here is our real threat:<BR/><BR/>City's Pension Cut Proposal May Set Negotiating Pattern <BR/><BR/>http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/06/nyregion/06labor.html<BR/><BR/>and<BR/><BR/>http://www.unionfacts.org<BR/><BR/>Why aren't you talking about this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1149562656338178172006-06-05T22:57:00.000-04:002006-06-05T22:57:00.000-04:00Is it true that there is no "anonymous" on this bl...Is it true that there is no "anonymous" on this blog? Why can't someone answer this since Norm brought this up?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1149562282708863332006-06-05T22:51:00.000-04:002006-06-05T22:51:00.000-04:00Chaz, you're idea is not bad. Wheter we can get i...Chaz, you're idea is not bad. Wheter we can get is another story. How willing do you think the DOE will be willing to "give" us that?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1149562203117739252006-06-05T22:50:00.000-04:002006-06-05T22:50:00.000-04:00Thanks for the self-promotion NYC Educator but let...Thanks for the self-promotion NYC Educator but let's get back to the posting.<BR/><BR/>I still don't understand what was Jeff doing there. Was he the member's advocate or just a bystander?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1149555082625972982006-06-05T20:51:00.000-04:002006-06-05T20:51:00.000-04:00The UFT has other ways to spend your dues money.The UFT has <A HREF="http://nyceducator.blogspot.com/2006/06/meet-michael-mendel.html" REL="nofollow">other ways</A> to spend your dues money.NYC Educatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12188066345722781723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1149475412416079262006-06-04T22:43:00.000-04:002006-06-04T22:43:00.000-04:00The UFT wins a couple out of every hundred I've be...The UFT wins a couple out of every hundred I've been told.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1149475365035598812006-06-04T22:42:00.000-04:002006-06-04T22:42:00.000-04:00Jeff was there. Read the rules.Jeff was there. Read the rules.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1149474889501128742006-06-04T22:34:00.000-04:002006-06-04T22:34:00.000-04:00People, lighten up! We are supposed to be on the ...People, lighten up! We are supposed to be on the same side on this issue. That is to make the "U" rating hearing system fair.<BR/><BR/>Does anybody know what percentage of teachers win their appeal?Chazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09964739497720364749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1149472006246059972006-06-04T21:46:00.000-04:002006-06-04T21:46:00.000-04:00Hey Jeff, why doesn't Norm answer the "anononymous...Hey Jeff, why doesn't Norm answer the "anononymous" question?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com