Jia teaches special education at the Earth School where she also serves as the school's UFT Chapter Leader. In addition to her teaching and union activism, Jia is a parent and leader in the opt out from testing movement. She will be challenging Unity's Michael Mulgrew who has been UFT President since 2009. The UFT election will take place in the spring of 2016.
For anyone who wants an introduction to Jia, take a look at this video where she testifies before the US Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on the re-authorization of No Child Left Behind.
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| The next generation of UFT activists at the MORE conference |
Seems like a good candidate. Not a surprise, wished MORE and No Action used some common sense though. I'll be voting Solidarity with Portelos, just like the vast majority of ATRs.
ReplyDeleteShe looks like an outstanding candidate. However the split in the vote will keep Mikey in office for three more years.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Solidarity putting a wrench in plan
DeleteThe solution is easy. Solidarity should use common sense and withdraw.
ReplyDeleteOut of 160,000 UFT members how many are ATRS? How many ATRs will actually vote? And don't take it for granted that ATRS will not vote for MORE given the number of MORE members who have been fighting for ATRS for years, especially James Eterno who has been leading the effort. ATRS will have a choice and when push comes to shove they will vote for reliable leadership like James.
ReplyDeleteIs James Eterno a member of MORE? He's not running for president, why use his name in such a cheap way? I thought he was in ICE. I've been an ATR for years and MORE has not made any impact in my working conditions. Solidarity has. Every ATR I know will vote. I only know of one who will vote for MORE.
ReplyDeleteMany ATRs will be voting for MORE and some will be running on the MORE slate. Show us the working conditions Solidarity has impacted? I read the blogs and comments of ATRs - no one is bragging about improved working conditions.
ReplyDeleteAsk 10 ATRs at random who Jia Lee is. Then ask who Portelos is. Not only ATRs will vote for Portelos and Solidarity. Solidarity's sites, i.e ANOI and meetings have helped our working conditions because it has given us tools and information to protect ourselves. Believe what you wish; I'll be voting Solidarity across the board. (New Action will turn on you, by the way.)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, what is it exactly Solidarity has accomiplished?
DeleteMay as well vote for Mulgrew then because that is what you are doing by voting for Solidarity.
ReplyDeleteMay as well vote for Mulgrew then because that is what you are doing by voting with New Action/MORE.
ReplyDeleteWe don't need two candidates. This will ensure victory for the inept Mulgrew. Porteleos has already proven himself, through this blog, to be a bit of a flake. My impression is that he is a bit of an ego maniac and likes to indulge in a little too much sangria on occasion. Mulgrew has done so much damage to this union that this may very well be the last chance to save it. I've spoken to so many colleagues who say that when the opportunity comes, they are going to quit the UFT.
ReplyDeleteNew Action goes back to the 70's. MORE is a coming together of groups that were well established. What is Solidarity claiming they have done? Held rallies where five people show up.
ReplyDeleteAs long as one of the five ain't you, Zucker, I'm cool with it.
ReplyDeleteAs silly as this argument goes back and forth like students in a classroom, this is just the way "MIKEY" likes conflict to happen - dissension in its rank and file. How we (educators) talk and banter with each other and not aim our dissent and disgust at the people who deserve this - UNITY. STOP WITH THE CONSTANT BACK AND FORTH and align in place where MORE/NEW ACTION and SOLIDARITY should join forces - would seem logical - regardless of ideology or differences. BOTH FACTIONS have the SAME PURPOSE - to defeat "MIKEY". Otherwise it becomes just redundant banter and nonsensical proclamations and rhetoric. If Ms. Lee and Mr. Eterno and Mr. Portelos should combined forces, like they should, then we would have a unified coalition instead of another "broken/fractured" system we are already have in place - almost "perfectly dysfunctional." This is where the optimal operates in the DOE - "perfect dysfunction." Why cater to it and placate to these Unity bigots and scoundrels? Clearly, all those who responded anonymously have a purpose, because like usual, WE are all scared of our name being mentioned and shown which is why THIS NONSENSE NEEDS TO STOP and address the real issues - someone, anyone, or ALL need to stop - "MIKEY"!!!!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with post above me. MORE/NEW ACTION/SOLIDARITY need to schedule to meeting to all get on the same page. There really needs to be ONE group running on the "oppose Unity" line.
ReplyDeletePortelos wants to be president. MORE and New Action do not think he is qualified. Let everyone run. That's democracy. What is there to meet about? ICE met with Portelos in the summer. It was a disaster.
ReplyDeleteYes ICE did meet with him and it was a disaster but not for ICE nor because of ICE.
DeleteIf you want to topple Unity, MORE and Solidarity must come together. Just sayin'.
ReplyDeleteThis infighting serves no purpose other than to give Mulgrew a chuckle and the confidence to know he will win again
: ICEUFT Blog
ReplyDeleteWhat infighting? Everyone is entitled to run. Mulgrew has huge advantages if there are one, two or a hundred running against him. Nobody else has access to the huge group of retirees who in 2013 were a majority of the electorate.
Opposition needs to build in the schools where people can spread the word. ICE backs MORE. We need contacts in each school to distribute our literature.
You mean MORE/NEW ACTION nominated and had a democratic process for President, how weird? We prefer Randi and Mulgrew anoint the candidate , after that candidate begs for a job with us here at unity.
ReplyDeleteThe equation is simple- a vote for Franny is a vote for Unity
Franny Ports left MORE to because Randi told him to- she knew MORE/NAC would topple the tyranny and as usal she finds a sucker to buy into her promises. teachers dont care about blog endorsements, they care about professionals like MORE/Jia Lee that fight for what's right everyday.
ReplyDeleteWhen Randi offered to fund Jia's trip to Washington Jia said NO. When Mulgrew offered to give her help on her speech to the Senate she said NO.
ReplyDeleteJia could have had a job with Unity and the UFT at any time. She says NO.
The leader of Solidarity met with Weingarten to plead for a job and when it was clear he could not get one he decided to run for election and form a caucus.
He was in the classroom for 3 days before deciding to become a principal and was in a principal training program- and if he had been offered a position in the leadership academy he would have jumped at it. It was only when he so screwed up his career and it was clear he would never be hired as a principal by the DOE that he switched gears. This is the guy you guys are placing trust in?
Go vote for him and see the outcomes. A vote for him is a vote for Mulgrew.
All those who call for MORE and New Action to join with Solidarity are living in fantasy. Solidarity exists because its leader wants to run for president, unacceptable by everyone except some ATRs. Jia is the only legitimate candidate opposing Mulgrew and that petty offer from Solidarity to give her the meaningless vice presidency of elementary schools is laughable. to every blogger and the hundreds of people who have been fighting Unity and Mulgrew. It is time for you to wake up from your dream or nightmare.
Don't be a Zucker, vote for Solidarity! A rallying cry for the ages.
ReplyDeleteDon't vote for Randi's tool. Vote for NAC-MORE Jia.
ReplyDeleteNew Action has been consistently pro-Mulgrew and were adamantly against ATRs having their own chapter. I won't have anything to do with them.
ReplyDeleteMORE must do major outreach at local schools, especially elementary. They need to pull those teachers heads out of their asses!
ReplyDeleteMORE also needs to reach out to retirees. They are key.
Dang James, wonder who all these pro-Solidarity peeps are? Is it just one person, or several being directed how to comment?
ReplyDeleteDemocracy is dependent upon different opinions. Questioning people's right to voice their opinions in an anonymous public forum and on someone else's blog isn't Kosher.
ReplyDeleteI'm not questioning anyone's right to comment.
ReplyDeleteListen, back in August, Solidarity proposed to MORE and New Action that the three opposition caucuses should run a primary and everyone would back the winning candidate. New Action politely declined; MORE did not even respond! There are still posts from MORE members saying that we wouldn't budge on running our own President . I did a lot of fact checking on the matter, and yes, at first Solidarity did wish to run its own President, but it was less than a month later that we proposed the primary, so let's not pretend that the diner meeting was where the story ended.
ReplyDelete^^^^ I wonder who this actually is.
ReplyDeleteOK. Who votes in the primary? How is it set up? Who makes sure it is on the up and up? Where does the voting happen?
I had suggested the best way was to set up a joint committee. Just like MORE/NA has done.
Seriously, what cred does Portelos have left? ZERO.
In just a few days Jia Lee has garnered endorsements and support from throughout the city and beyond. Every anti-Unity blogger will support her and even run with MORE. Name the people who have endorsed the Solidarity candidate?
ReplyDeleteYou don't want anything to do with New Action? Portelos left MORE because he wanted to work with New Action while they were supporting Mulgrew and MORE refused to work with them until they renounced their deal. What does that say about the Solidarity candidate? And when they finally did and gave up 10 guaranteed executive board seats MORE and New Action are working together in this election. In the 3 previous elections New Action was offered the same arrangement so nothing is new here. When they were in Mulgrew's camp Portelos was OK with that but when they leave the Mulgrew camp to work with MORE, NOW Solidarity is critical of them?
ReplyDeleteSolidarity has a right to run in this election and should do so as long as it runs against the real enemy - Unity and not MORE and Jia Lee by playing the role of a quasi_Unity attack dog and leaving them fingerprint free. Don't focus only on Mulgrew - this may be his last election as he might move to the AFT presidency and be replaced by another Unity machine cog. I'm betting he will leave in 2018 a year before the next election in 2019 and put in his successor. I am supporting MORE and Jia but have nothing against Solidarity running. I think if they get out votes that MORE won't that is a good thing and the totals of both groups will show the level of anti-Mulgrew sentiment in the union. Running 2 groups will increase the vote. Let even more groups form to run slates. Because of the retiree votes the totals will not top Unity and will never top Unity until we can force changes in the UFT constitution. The first step is to show that without retirees Unity wouldn't win. We have been so far from that so far. Let's start to prove that we can win the votes in the schools first and worry about retirees and nurses later. So go to it Solidarity and stop wasting time calling for everyone to hold wasteful meetings about uniting. Go forth and organize in the schools and hopefully when we total up the votes of the anti-Mulgrew groups we can make a dent in the Unity machine. MORE is very focused on establishing a permanent network that goes beyond this election. My mantra in MORE is: Less bullshit meetings and MORE organizing - like the MORE conference last week - which was attended by some Solidarity members who were welcomed. The elections should not be divisive. In Chicago there were 5 caucuses that ran in the 2010 election and some united after the election. One day we might hope to have one big caucus instead of 3 or more different groups.
ReplyDeleteGreat response. I agree 100%.
DeleteIt's just amazingly funny how all the "lengthy" commentators and short quips in and out of the conversation has all lead to one thing that MULGREW enjoys - DIVISIVENESS amongst the ranks. Clearly, MORE/NEW/SOLIDARITY would ALL have the same objectives - TO DEFEAT MULGREW - yet with the constant "one-up man'ship" that is being demonstrated - AGAIN - UFTers don't learn that devisive actions brings indirect reactions, hence WE lose the fight against UNITY. So stop with the pontificating of who knows what and who has what, just get the job done and do a damn good job in it!!
ReplyDeleteClearly if the DEMOs and the REPUBs can't get their acts together in Govt' why should we, educators, think we can pull ourselves together either because WE are acting just like them and that's awfully sad in a democratic society that we just can't get what it means to "stand in liberty and justice for all".... So sad, we have all this knowledge but can't agree on one thing - JUST GET MULGREW OUT OF OFFICE - by any means necessary!!!
So we should all get behind the crazy guy then right?
ReplyDeleteJust look at his picture in all of the ads for his caucus. Let's build our own cult of personality. We'll call it Mulgrew part II.
ReplyDelete