Thursday, January 19, 2006
Delegate Assembly Misses Opportunity to Stop Improper Money Grab
The UFT continued to try to cover-up the circumstances surrounding their recent staff pay raise by declining to review the action and then “correcting the inaccuracies” that were leveled against them at the Delegate Assembly Wednesday night. For the most part delegates were very surprised that the leaders of our Union increased their own salaries without even mentioning it to the Delegate Assembly.
A motion to rescind the improper and unapproved action was made and did not receive enough votes to place it on the agenda. Feeling that the motion raised accusations that needed to be explained to the delegates, Staff Director Michael Mendel told the body, indignantly that there were several inaccuracies. It was clear that the staff was paid the increase before proper Executive Board approval was obtained. It was also clear that our leadership does not care how it spends our dues so long as it helps line their own pockets.
Randi, herself admitted to flagrantly violating Roberts’ Rules at least two times at the Delegate Assembly. It does not bother her or the other beneficiaries of our hard earned dues to violate our rules and Union constitution at least when it comes to these raises.
Do our leaders need salary increases? Should they be rewarded for increasing our dues, getting a weaker contract that we had and failing miserably in leading our school system away from the corporate mentality that is making teaching more like factory piece work every day.
Many of the recipients of the raise have already received their DOE salary raises. Are they working in the UFT subsidized cafeteria? Are they performing any extra duties that we are required to in order to obtain an increase in our salary?
Since we were unable to properly discuss the merits (or negatives) of a salary increase for our hardworking leaders I put it out to all of you.
Should our leadership get a 15% raise? If you answered yes, then, please provide some suggestions on the increase duties they should be required to do in order to obtain their increases.
If you answered that they should not get a raise please provide some suggestions on what they should do to get a raise.
We will endeavor to bring your suggestions to the next Executive Board meeting. I don’t know if we will be allowed to speak but we will bring your suggestions anyway.
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13 comments:
Do the UFT leaders deserve a raise? The answer is no. In my view they are already more than generously compensated and should actually be trimming their salaries considering the poor/weak work they put into producing this giveback-laden contract.
What should they do to justify a raise? Well, as Randi said on Teacher Day in November: "Our primary goal is to become a militant organization that is prepared to do what it takes, including going on strike, so that in the next round of negotiations we will be taken seriously by City Hall."
Should the rank and file believe her? Well, at last nite's DA, a teacher, Nick, offered a Resolution that was very throrough and detailed, about the many specific things the UFT can do to increase activisim in the schools and get us prepared for a real battle, including going on strike, at the next contract talks, when our current contract ends in October 2007. A Unity hack got some mike time and spoke against Nick's resolution. He admitted that Nick had many good ideas, but (ah, here's the rub) "there were some impractical things there, and we really need to come up with a realistic strategy." This excellent resolution was voted down (though not by a tremendous majority).
Well, where is Randi' plan to restore activism? What is she waiting for? Two months have passed since she gave that Teacher Day speech. She cannot be believed. Her Unity crew is not be believed.
Deserve a raise? You gotta be kidding me. Throw the shit-eating bastards out! This crap has made me MAD AS HELL!
It seems the majority of people who attend the delegate meetings are of one mind--Unity's.
If there was no outrage against the raises, then it doesn't help to post our comments unless it will somehow change the situation.
Many teachers in my school aren't aware of these raises, but wouldn't be happy.
Would a petition help?
Apparently not enough delegates were sufficient outraged. The motion to place rescinding the raise on the agenda for next month's DA failed abysmally. Perhaps the problem is your credibility. Despite the fact that the raise was 5.5%, you continue to insist that it was 15%. If you can find a math teacher willing to interact with the ICEcapades, perhaps you can have him explain the difference to you. Telling the truth might go a long way in establishing you guys as a viable opposition. Well, on second thought, never mind, just keep on being the way you are.
I believe the UFT leaders deserve a raise. However, here are my suggestions for the givebacks. All UFT educrats must report to schools Monday-Thursday for 37.5 minute tutoring of students. They should report to the same school on Friday and clean the toliets, hallways, or cafeteria. Finally, the UFT leaders should contact parents during their prep period (for some of them that's most of the day) to find out why their darlings are not going to school and to inform ACS when the parents don't or won't respond.
I am disappointed in you guys. First, you don't talk about the Dec. DA "Shout Out".
Then you guys don't allow the Iraq resolution come to the floor.
Now finally there is no comment about the TWU's vote.
I know it is Friday but neither Jeff, Norm or James have an opinion?
waging a campaign against the TWU contract came easy of TWU dissidents. A well-organized grass roots campaign caused the contract to be voted down.
What I don't get is how did blue collar workers with no advanced education, no blogs to speak of can wage a better campaign than ICE or UTP?
I think there are lessons to be learned here too.
Boy, there's one ironic headline.
They "missed an opportunity" to stop it? Aren't those the same folks who created the opportunity to grab it?
I'm confused. I thought ICE supported Toussaint. Are you now saying you support their dissenters?
Still no comment about the Dec. DA
Or about the Iraq resolution.
I don't understand the TWU issue either. The give-back was about paying 1.5% for medical benefits. 1.5% could translate into a lot of money. I thought Touissaint did not support give-backs. So why was he so disappointed that the contract was voted down?
I thought ICE supported Toussaint?
ICE is the one who has to learn the lesson on how to properly wage a campaign against Unity. If 4 dissenters at TWU were able to drive a NO vote, then why couldn't ICE. The vote was sooooo close. That's the lesson to be learned.
I still think the TWU got a better contract than we did. Hopefully, the members did the right thing.
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