For anyone who is so inclined, I say go right ahead but don't be under any illusions that you will be involved in any actual give and take over the contract. I speak from experience. I served on the Negotiating Committee for the last two contracts. I can tell you without any equivocation that there were no discussions between the rank and file on the committee and the city or the Department of Education. That is all done behind the scenes by the union leadership and the city and DOE.
Even when the committee was broken into a smaller group that actually met across the bargaining table from the city, UFT President Michael Mulgrew did almost all of the talking. I can say I was able to get a few days off from school to go down to UFT HQ where Mulgrew made some fairly weak demands and then the next time the city came back and made demands to basically eviscerate the UFT contract and then we all went home. A little later we found out we were at impasse.
When the Negotiating Committee actually met amongst ourselves, it was like a mini Delegate Assembly with Mulgrew giving a report and then we asked questions.
We dissidents did question why we were making such weak demands while the city wanted everything back from us but Mulgrew said our demands were robust.
We didn't have much of a role in making up the contract surveys that were sent to the members which had questions like: Would you favor lower class sizes if it meant getting a smaller raise? Not many are going to say yes to that.
We can make some educated guesses on UFT priorities from the surveys. Since the UFT is pushing for paid family leave these days, expect a question such as: Should parents be able to get paid time off to care for families? You won't see this: Should parents get paid family leave if it means a smaller overall raise?
I hope some of you take the UFT up on the offer and join the Negotiating Committee. It will be dominated by Mulgrew's Unity Caucus where they never disagree with their leader. A few strong dissidents in the room could at least make it interesting. I wouldn't worry about the confidentiality agreement you need to sign. The city or DOE will leak out enough so you can write about what is on the table.
When the Negotiating Committee actually met amongst ourselves, it was like a mini Delegate Assembly with Mulgrew giving a report and then we asked questions.
We dissidents did question why we were making such weak demands while the city wanted everything back from us but Mulgrew said our demands were robust.
We didn't have much of a role in making up the contract surveys that were sent to the members which had questions like: Would you favor lower class sizes if it meant getting a smaller raise? Not many are going to say yes to that.
We can make some educated guesses on UFT priorities from the surveys. Since the UFT is pushing for paid family leave these days, expect a question such as: Should parents be able to get paid time off to care for families? You won't see this: Should parents get paid family leave if it means a smaller overall raise?
I hope some of you take the UFT up on the offer and join the Negotiating Committee. It will be dominated by Mulgrew's Unity Caucus where they never disagree with their leader. A few strong dissidents in the room could at least make it interesting. I wouldn't worry about the confidentiality agreement you need to sign. The city or DOE will leak out enough so you can write about what is on the table.
19 comments:
Hello. I would really like to be a part of the 300 team. How does one "apply"?
Same question...How do i sign up?
If it gets me a few days out of ATR limbo, I'm in. Looks good on my resume, too. I'm in.
I have a hard time believing that your glimpse of The Big Zero (aka Michael Mulgrew)"negotiating" with the City was anything more than a contrived bit of theater intended to make it appear that this well-compensated non-entity actually has a meaningful role in contract negotiations.
That's a committee room that will definitely need metal detectors if Mulgrew is present.
Why bother? So much damage has already been done, we're just shuffling the chair on the Titanic here...and it sank more than 100 years ago.
I am still waiting for around $40000, from raises I should've received in 2009 and 2010. If that had been in the stock market, fixed TDA account, or event on my mortgage, I would have so much more.
Totally done with the UFT forever! You can't fix it for me ever.
Can somebody PLEASE just tell us how we can sign up to be a part of the 300? I want to be a part of this. Does anybody know how to sign on???
Tell your CL. Easy as pie.
umm, I'm a CL and I know nothing about applying for this. As a CL I can tell you our meetings are dominated by suck ups who have drank the cool aid. Unity is a machine, they will place who they want to place on that committee. They do not have to answer to anybody. Trump could only wish the US was run like them.
Tell your DR you want to be on committee. Let them turn you down.
It is going to be useless.
It is great to see so many people interested in taking part in the negotiating process!
Let the negotiations begin!
With what we know about the bad deal we got last time we should see much improvement! We do not want to wait years to get raises or retro pay!
The city has a surplus!
But listen to Mulgrew. The city is about to be broke because of Trump. Forget how well the city and stock market are doing. NYC will soon cry poverty as contracts with city workers are up.
Ok, ok. Seems like NOBODY really knows how to sign up to be a part of the 300. There are folks here who love this blog who want to be a part of it. Is getting in touch with your district rep really the way to get on the 300? I voted MORE and would like to hear from them to get the official word on how to sign up. Please MORE, let us know!
From Special rep to CL:
Good afternoon everyone,
The UFT is preparing to enter into contract negotiations with the City. If you or any of your members would like to participate in the Contract Negotiations Committee, please respond to this email with the name of the person interested, email address, and phone number. This is a great opportunity to have our membership determine our goals and monitor the process of negotiations.
Thanks.
Name _______________
Phone# ______________
Can you send a link to the email so we can respond? BIG THANKS! (Or just give us an email address to respond to)
James, can I send you an email with my info so you can respond so I can sign up? (What is your email address?)
My email address is at the top of the page. ICEUFT@gmail.com.
Thanks James. Gonna email you my info now. Much appreciated!
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