Friday, November 11, 2016

THREE EMAILS FROM UNION LEADERS TRY TO LIFT THE SPIRITS TODAY

Michael Fiorillo recommended in commenting at the always insightful Perdido Street School that we read the Thomas Frank piece in the Guardian on the election. Frank trashes the Democratic party and media establishment for basically giving us Donald Trump. He includes some tremendous links.  Frank's conclusion:

The American white-collar class just spent the year rallying around a super-competent professional (who really wasn't all that competent) and either insulting or silencing everyone who didn't accept their assessment. And then they lost. Maybe it's time to consider whether there's something about shrill self-righteousness, shouted from a position of high social status, that turns people away.

The even larger problem is that there is a kind of chronic complacency that has been rotting American liberalism for years, a hubris that tells Democrats they need do nothing different, they need deliver nothing really to anyone - except their friends on the Google jet and those nice people at Goldman. The rest of us are treated as though we have nowhere else to go and no role to play except to vote enthusiastically on the grounds that these Democrats are the "last thing standing" between us and the end of the world. It is a liberalism of the rich, it has failed the middle class, and now it has failed on its own terms of electability. Enough with these comfortable Democrats and their cozy Washington system. Enough with Clintonism and its prideful air of professional-class virtue. Enough!

From Perdido:

Clinton shills did a lot of mocking this year, first the Sanders people during the primary, then the Trump supporters during the general.

One thing Clinton and her shills never did - try and understand the real pain and terror many in this country feel over their economic futures.

A lot of those people sent a big "Fuck You!" to the elites last night, though I think that will come back to bite them in the end.

A Republican president with a Republican Senate and a Republican House is going to do a lot of damage in the short term.

Add in all the crazies Trump is sure to bring along - Rudy, Christie, maybe Palin - and it's even worse.

As for the Supreme Court, that strategy Obama pursued doesn't look so hot now either - the chance to transform the Supreme Court is now lost to Dems.

Remember that union case that ended up 4-4 after Scalia died?

You can bet another like that one is going to rear sooner rather than later and those automatic dues the union elites lap up will go out the window with Clinton's electoral map to victory.

It's going to be a very tough few years.

The "Fuck you!" sent last night, as with the one the British sent with Brexit, is going to be a costly one in the end.

But I blame the Dem elites for this mess - this loss is squarely on HRC and her neoliberal cohorts.

On the same day that I read these pieces I opened my email box and there were emails from UFT President Michael Mulgrew, NYSUT President Karen Magee and AFT President Randi Weingarten. All three of these esteemed Democratic elites wrote on the same afternoon.

I am printing each in its entirety below and asking you if our leaders at the city, state and national level hit the right chord after Tuesday's latest election disaster?

Will there be any acceptance of any responsibility?

James,

Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton understood working families have been left behind by a changing economy, punctuated by the last recession, and that anger is reflected in the results. While Hillary Clinton seems on track to win the popular vote, more people in more states trusted Donald Trump to bring the change they need than trusted Hillary.

Throughout this campaign, Donald Trump promised to fix the rigged economy. He promised to restore America’s middle class, to bring back the country’s manufacturing and industrial base, and to restore dignity and opportunity for Americans—values that we as trade unionists understand intimately. He said last night that he would bring the country together—something that is essential, given the bullying and bigotry unleashed in this election. And as unionists, we will work tirelessly to ensure that all people can reach for their dreams, economically, educationally and otherwise.

We believe deeply in our democracy. We accept the will of the people, and, as Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday, we owe President-elect Trump the chance to lead. We will also hold him accountable for the promises he made to restore the sense of greatness and opportunity that too many Americans feel they have lost, while at the same time we will continue the fight for everyone’s liberties.

As Hillary said yesterday morning, the American dream is big enough for everyone, and fighting for what’s right is worth it. She called on us not to lose faith, not to be discouraged, not to lose heart. As we work to restore economic opportunity and dignity, we must—and we will—stand up to the tides of intolerance. We will ensure that the vulnerable, the bullied and the forgotten are not targeted or abandoned; that our rights are preserved for all communities; that our democracy is not eclipsed; and that our movements and values—like labor, public education, access to healthcare, a clean environment, civil rights and so much more—are not forgotten or devastated.

Though heartbroken at this result, this was about economic change and a yearning for change, not an undermining of all things we hold dear like public schools. Across the country in local races—from ballot initiatives in Georgia and Massachusetts, to school boards in New Orleans and Corpus Christi, to levies that will support schools in Cincinnati, Cleveland and the San Francisco Community College District, to Proposition 55 in California and much more—voters chose to lift up and protect the institution of public education. Our members across the country worked hard not just for Hillary, but for their local schools, their hospitals, their public services—and many prevailed.

We poured our hopes, our energy and our hearts into this campaign to elect someone we believed would bring the change we do desperately need. It breaks our hearts that the Hillary Clinton we know and love was not the person so many voters saw. But our deep belief in our democracy, in the power of people together, in the cause of opportunity and justice, will compel us to come together to move forward, no matter the odds.

We will do what Americans have always done. We will pick ourselves up, extend a hand to our neighbors and our colleagues, and recommit ourselves to the task of fighting for an America where everyone has a fair chance; where no one is demonized, no one is excluded; and where we lift each other up rather than let anyone—even a president—push any of us down.
In unity,

Randi Weingarten
AFT President



Karen's notes: Moving forward

On Tuesday, we exercised our privileged right to vote ... a right that has been secured and defended for us by generations of veterans. Today, as always, I stand in awe of their service and the many sacrifices they have made and continue to make in service of our country. Please join me in thanking all veterans for defending and protecting our beautiful democracy.

On Wednesday morning, we awoke to a very different world than the one we were anticipating. The outcome of Tuesday's vote was not what most of us expected nor hoped for, but it is our reality. Fortunately, it is a reality for which we have spent the last three years preparing, following our mantra of educate, organize and mobilize.

In the wake of the Friedrichs decision last March, I said: We may have dodged a bullet, but other attacks will surely follow. Now, we may not have predicted the results of this election, and we don't know the magnitude of the attacks that are to come, but our efforts to energize and mobilize our members leave us in a position where we are ready to stand in defense of students, parents and educators in New York State.

As my colleague, Executive Vice President Andy Pallotta, said on Wednesday morning, NYSUT stands by the same values we did before the election. We vow to continue to protect public education, quality health care, opportunity and equality for all. Here's more on NYSUT's election efforts from Andy.

Thank you to all who worked so hard on campaigns in New York, as well as NYSUT volunteers in battleground states. We will need all that energy and dedication, and more, in the future. As Hillary Clinton said so eloquently in her concession speech, fighting for what's right is always worth it. We will continue to do what we have been doing for the last three years: educate, organize, and mobilize our members, our friends, and our families. It is our right and our privilege to do so.


Dear James,
Given the import of this week’s events, I decided that instead of a Chapter Leader Update, I would send you this email addressing the election results and its ramifications on our schools, our students and our union.
I know the election results have left many of us shell-shocked. Many are worried about what the future holds for our families and our nation. And as public school educators, we are worried about the children in our care — the undocumented immigrants, the children in poverty, the Muslims, the LGBTQ kids.
As chapter leaders and union delegates, you can provide a safe place for members to talk and to lean on each other as we navigate the road ahead. As educators, we have to keep our own emotions at bay at school as we are called upon to answer our students’ questions, ensure that they feel safe and valued, and keep them inspired and focused on their education.
At our Delegate Assembly on Wednesday, you shared powerful and heartbreaking stories about your first day back at school. A teacher at International HS at Union Square relayed that an 11th-grader confided to him that her dream of going to college died the day before and her parents had started talking about moving back to their home country. A Queens teacher had to calm the fears of one 3rd-grader that World War III was coming. A Bronx high school teacher shared how she changed the topic of the Socratic seminar she had planned from Shakespeare to the election. 
In times like these, we have to hold fast to our core beliefs: that public education is critical to the future of this country; that all communities inside our school communities deserve respect and dignity; and that workers have a right to unionize and be treated fairly.
In the months and years ahead, we are going to face some of the greatest challenges that this union and its members have ever faced. There will be seismic policy shifts with Trump as president, both houses of Congress in Republican hands and the U.S. Supreme Court with a right-wing majority. We always try to work with people first but if they attack one of our core beliefs, we have no choice as a union but to fight. This is an opportunity for us to organize, both among our own members and with others in our communities.
How we fare in this battle will come down to the grit we have. We can draw strength from knowing that our fights have always been righteous fights. We will work with those who share our values — including parent and community groups and civil rights and immigrant rights associations — because we know we are more powerful when we stand together.
We must keep moving forward. Our families, our students and the communities we serve are depending on us. We will get through this together.
I thank you for all that you do.
Sincerely,
Michael Mulgrew
Michael Mulgrew



46 comments:

Anonymous said...

Certainly the crooked DNC leadership (assuming we all know what Wasserman Shultz and then Brazile did) and exposure thereof played a part in Democratic defeat. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donna-brazile-democratic-national-committee_us_5824cb95e4b0ddd4fe7954e8)

35 governors, Senate and House control, President and SCOTUS selections means the Republicans are positioned as never before. Expect changes to Obamacare, Taxation, Illegal Immigration Priorities, and a host of other issues.

Were we fooled by the rosy media coverage? Did we turn off many of the Democratic electorate by tolerating BLM and embracing other questionable special interest groups? Did the presence of an admitted Socialist as a rival to Hillary turn off traditional Democrats more than it energized younger ones? Did rank and file union members find Mr. Trump more appealing than Secretary Clinton? Is it time to split into a progressive party and a traditional democratic party? Did we back a fatally flawed candidate (following a rigged primary process) from yesterday in what we knew deep down was a change election?

Lots of questions.

Anonymous said...

Ok so. Meathead Mike has now morphed in to Marshmallow Mike. All of these emotionally fragile lefties in need of grief counseling crying over not getting their crooked choice into the White House.
Marshmallow Mike has just hit a new low with this letter so insulting to membership, portraying us as a bunch of basketcases.
I would love to see NYC teachers launch a recall and get this clown the hell out of this position.
But unfortunately I dont have a lot of faith in NYC's "Brightest"

NYC Educator said...

My spirits would be further lifted if the letters didn't come from the very people who drove us into the ditch we're in.

Anonymous said...

Dear Randi, Mike, James, etc...

I was horrified the way President obama let criminals out of jail early, who then went on to commit more crime, when they should have been locked up. I was horrified how obama sent 3 white house reps to the mike brown funeral, who tried to kill a cop, had committed a bunch of crimes that very day. I am opposed to how obama has led a downturn in the black community in terms of education, salary, employment, while adding foodstamps, etc. I am shocked the obama would invite BLM to the white house, as they are calling for dead cops and dead white people. Im shocked my uft has donated to the likes of racist al sharpton. Eric garner was supported, despite having how many kids, no job and 39 arrests at 36 years old...

Bronx ATR said...

Those 3 letters are vomit inducing. I'm going to print them out and put them in my medicine cabinet for the next time I need to purge my system. Randi, take responsibility for your sole decision for the entire AFT. Mulgrew and Magee are irrelevant. Mulgrew can't even fathom how cringe worthy and insulting his letter is - we are unstable, unintelligent and LBGT (just for political correctness, of course) sheep. The whole thing is surreally laughable, but the joke is on us.

Anonymous said...

I am so glad I voted for Trump! The UFT will soon enough have to work for our dues. Michael Mulgrew, Richard Mantell, Leroy Barr, etc. are on notice that their days are numbered and will go down as the people who destroyed the UFT. You think ATRs or anyone that's ever been one will pay dues? I'm going to pay dues to get paid in 2020 for work I did in 2008? I'm going to pay dues to be abused by my APs and principal? No, I'm going to take my dues and give myself a 1% raise, which I deserve!

End your COPE! And soon...End your dues! They can earn my dues back when they get a good contract, stop the abuse, and start working for us!

Anonymous said...

If I were the union leadership(s), I would learn a valuable lesson from Tuesdays results. The membership will also rise up and vote their self interest if they continue to seek common ground with education leaders that allow members to be harassed and belittled daily. Common ground should be the CBA, its enforcement should be the prime directive. Concern yourself with that, or watch as the membership shows you the door. It can happen.

Eyes Wide Open!!

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, I think R.W. is from the "no apologies" school. (As a side note, her letters always seem to contain many long sentences. No offense, but it makes the letters harder to read. These general letters, and the ones they send out as advertisements to the NY Times are for a general audience. Sorry, but I have trouble getting through them.)

Anonymous said...

I want to add- I'm glad Mulgrew talked about students being upset in the classroom. Trump did run a campaign that incited racism. The President-elect has to address that. At work, one co-worker told another, that he was "getting a plane ticket back." (This guy and probably his parents were born here.) Was he joking around? He probably thought so, but it's not ok.
The people Trump singled out were already vulnerable. I think most people's biggest fear is that Trump's election emboldens those racists on the fringe.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, Trump is really bad. He doesn't want terrorists here. He also doesn't want illegal immigrants, who are breaking the law being here. And yes, some do bring drugs and crime. I guess it's better to blame innocent cops and feel bad for criminals, pander to themas,well. Isn't that exactly what we do in the doe? You don't show up, free ride, credit recovery, give them a 65.

Anonymous said...

We don't want bullies. People who are wrong but use might to get their way.

Anonymous said...

Obama said to Republicans 8 years ago, too bad, I won, elections have consequences. Sounds like a bully.

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:22

I assume you are referring to the media elite. Just like the weirdos marching in the street, they are throwing tantrums in despair. Not used to not getting their way I guess.

Anonymous said...

I understand why students were upset, if my family illegally invaded a country and we're going to be under great pressure now to leave or will eventually get deported, I'd be crying too. Muslim students may be upset that sharia law won't be taking effect here soon too. I have had dozens of Muslim students express how their countries, religion, and ideas were better than America, that gays, Christians, women in school, etc. we're wrong. Trump and the Republicans are saving liberals from themselves.

In the end I believe a man who loves America and Americans above foreigners and being politically correct will be a good thing!

Anonymous said...

Mayor de Blasio better take note of this election, union members will NOT follow their leadership blindly. UFT members in whole, beside the leadership, are upset over the contract we got. We are also concerned about keeping the city on track in the areas of crime, house values, and quality schools. I'd rather vote to keep my kids schools safe, my apartment's value up,-it's skyrocketed under Republican Mayors, and my community safe than what the UFT says!

A good Republican challenger could easily take NYC back with a vast majority of union members voting for them, in spite of what the leadership says! De Blasio has taken and taken from union members, our medical costs have gone sharply up, we received horrible raises, are under more pressure than ever, pensions are being eroded, etc. we aren't going to support him!

Anonymous said...

Maybe the next contract should eliminate the ATR pool. Find a job or find another career. The city could use the savings to pay a nice raise to everyone else. Let's get rid of the crazy, the lazy, the miserable, the unhappy, and the incompetent. Why should my taxes pay the salaries of misconduct ridden incompetents who get paid a full salary to do nothing? And don't tell me its because your salary is too high. It's because you are either too crazy to employ, you got into so much trouble no one can or should hire you or you are not interested in working hard anymore.

Anonymous said...

Kwait at john Bowne under investigation again for.. Wait for it...... Sexual harassment. James needs to do an article on him

Anonymous said...

ATRs have a job. We are far superior to most of teachers I've seen. Don't believe me? Ask the DOE or UFT to release the demographics. They won't, even with numerous FOIL requests. Sue Edelman from the NY Post has filed suit. Now that Trump is in office you'll be on the unemployment line before me. Enjoy!

James Eterno said...

Since I have been an ATR or provisional teacher since 2014, I think the 3:44 pm comment is one of the most insulting, ignorant ones I have seen here. You think most of us don't want to be appointed permanently? Even though we are cost free for this year for a school, seniority makes it next to impossible to get picked up. Many of us are senior teachers who would go right to the top of school seniority lists if we were hired putting newer, cheaper teachers at risk of excess so we are left hanging. I blame the UFT and the DOE for this situation. Both sides agreed to this.

Anonymous said...

3:41 is pissed at some of the comments against Weingarten and Mulgrew. ATRs aren't allowed to criticize the Grand High Witch or her son so we all have to be reminded of the stereotypes that the DOE and UFT branded them with. Go to one of the bullshit UFT/ATR meetings next week. Count how many are under 50 and ever received a negative rating. It might open your eyes 3:44, but then you already know I'm telling the truth, don't you?

Anonymous said...

O'Reilly just showed 2 black pieces of trash beating a guy to a pulp because he voted trump. Fuckin garbage, just like these trash students.

Anonymous said...

That just proves you and black guys that beat the Trump supporter are the same- racists. Black and White racists should do a DNA test sometime, they may be in for a surprise.

Anonymous said...

Right, compare a factual comment to a gang assault, based on skin color and a presidential vote

Anonymous said...

Like Trump supporters didn't rough up anyone. They are white so it's ok. Go back to Fox News where you can live in your bubble.

Anonymous said...

Would the grownups please explain to the weirdos marching in the street that they are embarrassing themselves and the party (Democratic) that has embraced them. Explain that they lost, this happens in life, and all the tantrums in the world won't change it. The infantile (not to mention often violent and illegal) tantrums reinforce the negative stereotypes that helped the Republicans win big in the first place.

Perhaps a few of the crybabies who lost in the election (after unwisely selecting and then backing yesterday's candidate in a change election) need a 'participation trophy' or something like that to pacify them.

This (the election loss) was very upsetting to the 'special snowflakes' we now see on display on our nighttime city streets. Apparently Mulgrew has a damaged psyche as well.

Don't expect the Democratic Party leadership to realize their embrace of loony - not to mention racist (Black Lives Matter, etc) - notions contributed to their loss. Don't expect them to realize that he longer the tantrums go on the longer the Democrats continue bleeding support.

Anonymous said...

I was once a liberal Democrat, then I had kids and woke up to the horrible world, the degradation of America, and the fact we were helping everyone except hardworking Americans. Seeing these animals in the street only drives more people to the right and demonstrates how important a vote for Trump was! We need to get rid of criminal illegals, stop ISLAMIC terrorism and their invasion of America, rep legal-replace Obamacare, etc.

Our union leaders face difficult times because Democrats have sold out America over and over and the unions have sold out members!

Anonymous said...

Have to agree...the actions of these people matches our students, do everything wrong, blame everybody else, then play the victims, while taking all the federal handouts. There was never this type of discourse when Obama won, or the violence. Always left, always minority.

James Eterno said...

When Obama won, Republicans got together to undermine him. We had government by filibuster. Democrats don't play hardball for various reasons. The frustration you feel is real and so is what many people on the street feel. This is now twice in the last 16 years that the obsolete electoral college is giving us a president who lost the popular vote. If it were the other way around, Republicans wouldn't stand for it if their guy won the popular vote but lost because of the electoral college.

Anonymous said...

These wonderful students curse us out and that Ed notes guy and even the great James blamed the teachers. I like you James but you know you were wrong for agreeing with that Ed notes guy. Blame the teacher sounds more like it comes from the doe instead of a hard working unionist like yourself

James Eterno said...

I don't blame teachers when kids curse us out. Please show me the evidence. Ask the people I have represened if I did not back teachers with everything I have throughout the years. Insults are one thing but please back them up with facts.

Anonymous said...

Undermine is different than riot, break laws, hurt people, destroy property.

Anonymous said...

Still wiring for someone to explain how Obama letting criminals out of jail early helps anybody, especially blacks. And don't give me that non violent garbage, they are very violent.

Anonymous said...

I will James the evidence is from a post back in June with over 100 comments. I know you remember. Like I said your a good guy but wrong in the situation. I'll stop by and say hi if I'm ever rotated back to your school.

Anonymous said...

July 11 7:57 am is the evidence. look it up and I'm here when you want to apologize.

James Eterno said...

July 11 comment:
 James Eterno said...

Norm (Ed Notes)is 100% right. I worked at Jamaica High School for 28 years and I was never ever, not even once, called a derogatory racial name by any kid. I taught very few white kids in those years. A student said F*** you to me one time in that long span of time and was dealt with by the deans in one of my rare calls to the deans. I had a few confrontations with angry students for sure but that goes with the job. I don't fault the teacher when things go wrong usually however there are ways to fan the flames or deescalate situations.

Hardly makes me anti-teacher. I said I don't fault the teacher.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, because every student james has sits down, opens the notebook, does the do now, has a pen and pencil, doesnt take out a cell...

Anonymous said...

Black trash? Nah...

A straphanger on a Bronx train throttled a 24-year-old Donald Trump supporter — because the victim was wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, officials said Saturday.

The victim told police he hopped on a Bronx-bound No. 5 train at Union Square — proudly sporting the red baseball hat emblazoned with the president-elect’s campaign slogan — about 4 p.m. Friday, police said.

As the train approached the 149th St./Grand Concourse station, the victim noticed another passenger had moved into a seat directly across from him and was eyeing his hat.

“Are you a Trump supporter?” the stranger asked.
After trying to choke the Trump supporter, the man ran off the train when it stopped at 149th St.

The victim, who was not seriously harmed, reported the attack to cops at the station.

Anonymous said...

Why did you say I agree with Ed notes 100% and then tell us you almost never had a problem. Seems you were alluding that it must be the teachers fault. Not until the end do you attempt to save yourself by saying it not the teachers fault. Tell us why did you agree with Ed notes 100%. That was a very tough post where many of us were called racists for stating that we are cursed out .

James Eterno said...

Never said kids behave perfectly. I have had my share of disruptive students. It is how you deal with it.

James Eterno said...

Agreed that I wasn't cursed out based on race. Cursed out for failing kids but usually they understood after talking it out.

Anonymous said...

Ok James your still my favorite. You need to do something on Kwait at john Bowne

Anonymous said...

And all the schools that are posting fake vacancies, get sent a slew of ATRs, no vacancy exists, then they are used to cover everything but their license, including detention, lunchroom, library...

James Eterno said...

That is so correct about the vacancies. Kwait is another example of how awful this system is. Principals today can get away with just about anything.

Anonymous said...

3 for 3 this year. Sent to 3 schools with posted vacancies, none exist. 3 and 4 ATRS sent to a school of 200 due to fake vacancy

James Eterno said...

Please attend the MORE-ICE ATR meeting on Saturday.

Anonymous said...

Nah. Afraid of rioters who resemble our students. Freeloading criminals who say how bad govt is but then use govt as their only source of income.