Tuesday, September 18, 2018

UFT EXECUTIVE BOARD AFFIRMS NO DEMOCRACY IN HIRING DISTRICT REPS

There was so much that happened at the first Executive Board of the year. Arthur Goldstein's report is as usual required reading. This is some of what caught my eye.

First, in an astonishing admission on new people not signing up to be UFT members, we learn  this from Arthur's minutes of President Michael Mulgrew's report:

(Updated with clarification from Arthur)
Not sure number of agency fee payers, from 2000 down to around 400. Next challenge is process for new members, who are no longer members until we speak with them. We did new member engagement over summer. We had names and phone numbers. By first week we signed 2500 of 4000 members. Will probably be another 900 new teachers in next few weeks.

If 1,500 new people are not UFT members, that isn't too good if we had access to them under the new law over the summer. I also heard there were 1,200 Agency fee payers from other sources, not 400 as Mulgrew says. Even if we take the UFT at their word, how many of those 1,500 are consciously not joining the union? The UFT will call it a victory no matter how many join but over time if a significant number of new employees do not enroll in the Union, it will mean plenty of losses if that is the trend.

Also, how can the DOE still be about to hire 900 new teachers now when school has already started when there are so many Absent Teacher Reserves out there? I'm sure the licenses match for most of the new hires where ATRs could fill these vacancies.

The next part that I found interesting was UFT Vice President Carmen Alvarez retirement remarks where she talked about the "game changer" she thinks the next contract will be.

Here are her words as recorded in Arthur's minutes:

Alvarez—loves union, thanks for opportunity to support members and young people they serve. UFT allowed me to make a difference. Believes new contract will be game changer. Opportunity for you to create magic in schools. Thanks us.

I don't know what this means but we can be hopeful.

Finally, the UFT/Unity Caucus is incapable of changing on having democracy for District Representatives. So what else is new?  Before 2003, UFT District Representatives were elected by Chapter Leaders in their district. Bruce Markens and Tom Dromgoole in Manhattan High Schools were actually not members of the Unity Caucus and they won. Randi Weingarten changed the rules to make it an appointed position in 2003. Now the UFT wants to change the rules again so the appointments can come from a larger pool. I guess some Unity people need jobs and there is only one DR per district.

Continuing Resolution on the Selection Process for UFT District Representatives

WHEREAS, The Executive Board adopted a resolution on the selection process for district representatives  on June 3, 2003; and

WHEREAS, District Representatives Interview Committees have discussed more flexibility in their recommendations to the UFT President; and

WHEREAS, the interview committees make recommendations to the president, and half of the members on the committees will continue to be chapter leaders; therefore be it

RESOLVED, the committees may choose to interview and recommend any candidate from any district who meets one or more of the following criteria:

1) A present or past chapter leader for at least one year.
2) A present or past district representative for at least one year.
3) A present or past executive board member or at least one year.
4)  A present or past UFT officer for at least one year, and be it further

RESOLVED, the president may choose individuals for each existing vacancy from the committees' recommendations. However, if the president does not choose from the names submitted by a committee, the president will meet with that committee and explain the reasons for the selection.

New Action's Jonathan Halabi spoke against this resolution. Here again from Arthur's minutes:

Jonathan Halabi—I rise in opposition to this resolution.
District Reps should be responsible to the Chapter Leaders they serve. In the past Chapter Leaders elected their District Reps – now that’s real accountability.
Not only does this resolution not restore this basic piece of control to the chapter leaders – it allows DRs from outside the district, it allows a retiree to become DR.

DRs should be accountable to all the CLs in their district, not just those on the committee. That’s fundamental, you should be accountable to those you serve.


If we wanted to increase the pool, why require chapter leaders to come from the school they serve? If we wanted to increase the pool, why require executive board members to come from the UFT?

Needless to say the resolution passed with Unity saying we need a wider pool of candidates.

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hmmm, not as many new teachers are signing up to be in the UFT? The next contract better be a good one or a shitload of more teachers are gonna "opt out". (Not that I support that but I understand the anger and frustration)

Anonymous said...

And? Nothing is changing.

Anonymous said...

They want to keep corruption going.

Anonymous said...

Seem to me this is actually more fair. It opens up opportunities to more people. Particularly more underrepresented people. Black, Brown, Woman, LBGTQA+.

Say you have a mover and shaker who wants to more up the career ladder. Doesn’t want to move up on the school admin side. Was a real great Chapter Leader. In their home district there is not an opportunity for them.

Why should they wait. More importantly why should the members of the UFT be deprived of a great leader.

I understand you are worried about elected roles. There are plenty of elected positions in the UFT, Chapter Leader, Delegate, executive board, 750 RA/AFT positions. That is where true democracy takes place on the convention floor.

Seems that operational positions should not be elected. DR should not be a popularity contest. You need people with a set of skills and abilities to serve the members.

Anonymous said...

The USSR had more democracy than the UFT.

Anonymous said...

The UFT is allowing abuses on experienced teachers all over the city. The UFT should be ashamed of themselves.

Anonymous said...

There is no democracy on the convention floors of RA/ AFT as every UFT rep votes in lockstep for whatever they are told. Any statement otherwise is misleading. The same set of skills it what UFT wants in DRs and that is exactly why we're in the mess we are.

Anonymous said...

Hey anon 4:57 - Of course this seems fair to you, a Unity troll slavering for your own trip to the gravy train.

Anonymous said...

Seem to me this is actually more fair. It opens up opportunities to more people. Particularly more underrepresented people. Black, Brown, Woman, LBGTQA+.


SJW alert.
Rofl....
Yes folks, this is really what they believe (I won't say "how they think").
I used to be one, so it kinda hurts to say that, indeed, liberalism is a mental illness.

Anonymous said...

They should make these District Reps observed and harassed by Field Supervisors like Stark or Quail.

Anonymous said...

The UFT should stop discrimination.

waitingforsupport said...

Such hostility and duplicity from some folks...smells of fear.

Anonymous said...

Fear of what? Trillions spent and it didnt change. Black president, didnt change.

Francesco Portelos said...

We could open up talks about attempting to change the UFT constitution through the membership. Use for organizing and pushing for district chapter leaders to elect district reps.

Anonymous said...

Waitingforsupport--perfect handle; says so much.
Waiting: not doing anything.
Support: someone give me stuff I won't get for myself, cuz I'm waiting after all.
Trump wants to give you a hug.
Roflmao....Lol lol...this is an adult folks.

Anonymous said...

Well, you know, its always the fault of someone else. Make minimum wage, commit all the crime, cant get into Tech, get arrested, must be racism, not culture. Black president, AG, police forces, mayors all over the country, affirm action, changing rules and laws just to keep blacks out of jail, ending suspensions, weed is legal, "low level" offenses go unpunished, free college...What more do you want?

Anonymous said...

My man is back

waitingforsupport said...

They are baaaack. Sniff sniff I still smell fear and cowardice. Lol

waitingforsupport said...

@7:04...lots. It's a coming too. Lmbo....sniff sniff

waitingforsupport said...

@ 5:47 anonymous...Anonymous?! Lmbo...must have taken years for you to come up with that original moniker. Sniff sniff

Anonymous said...

All that money and they still cant escape poverty. Well done liberals well done

waitingforsupport said...

Mo money mo money mo money....

waitingforsupport said...

Noooooooo

waitingforsupport said...

@9:56am...do tell. How did you escape

waitingforsupport said...

@ 9:37 am. I prefer the title, "your brain" as opposed to "my man"...thank you.

Anonymous said...

Someone has been triggered.....lol smh lol woke wtf lolol

Anonymous said...

On Blogger since November 2015

Profile views - 189


About me

....
lolol


that woke sjw hag that cant get a man.

waitingforsupport said...

What does sjw mean?

waitingforsupport said...

Stick to the topic..

Anonymous said...

No money no money no money

waitingforsupport said...

Social justice warrior...hmmmmm

Anonymous said...

@DOEChancellor joins @NYCMayor to announce $2m for districts to develop diversity plans: “Let’s get to work!” Keep doing them favors, twenty years from now we will be having the same conversation, why do they still lag?

waitingforsupport said...

My colleagues sent a big thank you to the chancellor and mayor for correcting the wrongs of yesteryear. I'm so excited for the future, sniff sniff

Anonymous said...

Thats the point, it cant be corrected. Its a joke. They can never succeed.

waitingforsupport said...

Keep hope alive. Can't is just a word. With teachers like yourself, I believe.

Unknown said...

This opens up nothing instead it shuts the door on the chapter leades who do the real work of the union. I am recent victim of this lack of democracy where all the other chapter leaders endorse me but Mulhrew put in his person where is the democracy there is none

James Eterno said...

Who are you? If we knew, we might be able to say something.