Why have UFT elections been pushed back to May this year? Traditionally, they have taken place in March or April. The 2013 ballots were counted on April 25. In 2010 it was early April and back in 2007 it was in late March. It is strange that elections are taking place this year in May. Ballots will be mailed to member homes on May 5 and will be counted on May 26. According to the UFT Constitution, this is permitted but the cynic in me thinks the reason for postponing the election is to increase the Unity Caucus vote.
Unity Caucus is Michael Mulgrew's faction of the UFT that has run the union since the sixties. They are a well oiled machine and will do anything to keep power.
Why May and not the traditional late March or April for the election? Well May is precisely the month where UFT members will be receiving a 3.5% salary increase. Unity's thinking seems to be that people will get some money and reward Mulgrew with their vote. That looks like a major reason to delay the voting this year.
Unity will send their army of District Representatives, Special Representatives, Chapter Leaders and Chapter Advocates around to remind people in the schools about their May 1 salary increases right while they simultaneously make people aware that the UFT election ballot was mailed on May 5.
Do you think anyone without an opposition person in a high profile position in a school is going to remember that 2% of this 3.5% is money from the last round of collective bargaining that most other city unions got back from 2008-2010. Half of the 8% raises the city owes us from those years will still not have been added to our paychecks even in May. In addition, 87.5% of the arrears that has backed up since 2009 still has not been paid to us. That money will not be released to us until 2017 through 2020.
Add to the money that there will be a huge pro-union publicity campaign culminating in May that Mulgrew talked about at the Delegate Assembly yesterday around the Friedrichs Supreme Court case. This case is horrid as it would deprive the unions of agency fees so people would not have to pay anything to the union and would still get union benefits if the unions lose which looks likely. However, why not do actions in June when the case will be decided or right now? The union campaign will have no impact on the five conservative Supreme Court Justices so why do it at the same time as the UFT election?
As I see it, the campaign is for the membership. Its goal is to maximize the Unity vote and subtly call anyone who says anything against the leadership anti-union.
Am I being too cynical? Is all of this timing just a coincidence? If I was on the Election Committee I would be questioning the calendar of the election coinciding with the Friedrichs campaign and the salary increase but I am not on the committee. I will tell MORE-New Action.
I have a grudging kind of respect filled with disgust at how the Unity Caucus machine operates. Vladimir Putin, or for that matter Mao Zedong, would be envious of the loyalty Unity gets from its members as working conditions in the schools continue to deteriorate. All I hear about is tears and resignation from more and more UFT members about a job that is becoming impossible in the schools while the UFT spin is that things have never been better.
11 comments:
The funny thing is that we don't know for sure exactly when the Supreme Court case will be decided. "They" say June but it could come before or after that. Then again, most of the young teachers at my school have no clue as to what is going on or don't care. (Some know and don't care which is even worse) Most of them won't vote in the election this year as there is no sign on bonus to be had in an election.
That apathy will be repeated in schools throughout the city.
Hmmm. Mulgrew said, specifically, June 15th. Almost as if he had been given a heads up. Is that too far fetched?
All on the bench recognize the impact a Freidrichs ruling will have on contracts worth $billions. No judge wants to be known for the instability created by suddenly undermining $ billions of dollars of contracts. Clearly, they are going to rule against us. But, I don't think they will do so suddenly. I think the SCOTUS has been telegraphing their decision to all parties, and will pull the plug on public sector unions at the designated hour, June 15th.
SCOTUS always makes rulings in June.
Canada keeps looking better and better. I have 7 American friends (all ex-teachers) who have left the country with their families in tow. Canada, Cost Rica, Ecuador, Norway, Ireland, Greece, and Italy. None of them are of those ethnicities. I'll give Canada a shot in a couple of years.
News reports say a ruling can happen at any time. Although, the end of session is the most likely time. But, "always" is a bit too superlative sounding.
Who voted on this decision? The election committee that is mostly 70% Mulgrew's party? What about if a recount is needed? There is not much time to do that if it is so late in the year. Mulgrew owes the members a reason for the change, at the very least. Eyes wide open as the election shenanigans have already begun. This is what I have been nervous about.
SCOTUS does not make all their decisions in June but most of the important ones come at the end of the term in June.
Torii 1:23
No need to be alarmed. First, all caucuses are represented on the election committee. Second, the election is conducted by the independent AAA. In the event that a recount is needed you can rest assured that it will be timely. I am also pretty darn sure if history is any indication that at least one famous education / labor blogger not affiliated with management but well known for his community theater ability and love of rice pudding will be on hand the entire time to make sure there is no funny business.
There does not have to be any funny business. The election is tilted Unity's way in a much more sophisticated way.
Yes my friend, if I can I will be there all day to eat the free pizza and watch the retiree votes flow in.
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