Thursday, August 08, 2019

POLL FINDS OVER HALF OF TEACHERS WOULD STRIKE AND PARENTS WOULD OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT US

Education Week covered an annual PDK poll on education. The results that teachers are unhappy should come as a surprise to nobody. However, the poll also found parental support for teachers striking is huge.

From The Education Week article on the poll:

More than half of the country's teachers say they'd go on strike for better pay if they had the chance, and half are so unhappy that they've seriously considered leaving the profession in the last few years, according to a poll released Monday.

"I work 55 hours a week, have 12 years' experience, and make $43k," one teacher told researchers for the PDK survey. "I worry and stress daily about my classroom prep work and kids. I am a fool to do this job."

For the first time since 2000, PDK included public school teachers in its annual poll of attitudes toward K-12 education, and their voices came through loud and clear: They're exhausted and resentful. Topping teachers' list of complaints: low pay and inadequate school funding, issues that ignited a wave of strikes starting last year and boosted public support for their cause.

"We absolutely need to take note of this. Teachers have legitimate grievances. This indicates we're going to see continued agitation," said Lawrence Mishel, a labor market economist who studies teacher compensation at the Economic Policy Institute, a think t
ank supported partially by teachers' unions.

Further down in the piece are some very promising numbers:

Parents in the poll resoundingly support teacher strikes, even though they'd be acutely affected by a walkout. In fact, parents expressed more support for teacher strikes than teachers themselves did: More than three-quarters of parents would back a teachers' strike for higher pay. Parents were even more inclined to support a strike aimed at getting teachers a bigger say in academic matters or more money for school programs. More than 83 percent backed job walkouts for those reasons.

We make a decent salary in NYC so striking primarily for money might not be too popular here although the cost of living in NYC is very high so we could make a case. When it comes to non-economic issues, there has never been a better time or more of a need for teacher union militancy in NYC.

We have an unpopular mayor and governor in NY. We need to dramatically change flawed state tests and teachers should have a real say in academic matters. Schools are funded in NYC at around 10% below what the city considers Fair Student Funding. The PDK Poll says 83-84% of parents are on our side. While this is a national poll, I can't see the results in liberal NY being much different. With that kind of overwhelming parental support, we could demand that Taylor Law penalties of fines of two days pay for each day on strike be waived. Let's start preparing.

Oh wait, Michael Mulgrew is the UFT President who basically controls the state union NYSUT too. The UFT negotiated an early contract with our unpopular mayor for peanuts and few non-monetary gains. At the state level, NYSUT wouldn't even back a bill to make opting out of state tests easier. Our conciliatory bargaining strategy is so behind the times.

Can we at least start preparing now to have a real threat for some type of militancy in 2022 when the contract ends?

50 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have to disagree with you that NYC teachers make enough money. I’m 10 years in and am at 30+. I have a family and a child in college. I can’t afford any house within an hour and a half commute to my school in the Bronx. I know many teachers who commute 2 hours each way. When teachers can afford to buy homes within a decent commuting distance, then I will say we get paid enough.

James Eterno said...

I said we could make a case on money but it shouldn't be the primary motivation. Your point is valid.

Anonymous said...

I 100% disagree that the parents of NYC would support us going on strike. We are the biggest babysitting service in the country and our parents want to watch Wheel of Fortune without their rug rats running around the apartment! (Remember how pissed our parents were when we had those snow days last year?)

James Eterno said...

So NYC parents are different from parents around the rest of te country? That is hard to accept logically.

Bronx ATR said...

The only way I see a strike happening in NYC is if something disastrous happens because of the non- existent discipline policy and the refusal of many principals to use metal detectors due to the fear of stats over guns. Hope that never happens because the NYC public schools are completely unprepared.

https://campuslifesecurity.com/Articles/2019/06/18/State-Audit-Shows-NYC-Schools-Not-Prepared-for-Shootings-Other-Emergencies.aspx?m=1

Anonymous said...

James, NYC parents are different from parents around the rest of the country. You can't compare the parents of NYC with parents in Westchester or Long Island. Rich, liberal parents, with a social justice agenda in the suburbs would totally support striking teachers and could afford to take a few days off of work or arrange childcare if their schools were closed. However, many parents in NYC simply look at our school system as a babysitting service and would not be willing to be inconvienced by school closures due to a strike.

James Eterno said...

How about comparing us to Los Angeles, Chicao or Oakland where teacher strikes all had massive parental support? Even if your theory is correct, which I don't accept, the parents who think we are a babysitting service would pressure the city to settle so they could have their babysitters back. We perform a service that would be missed.

Anonymous said...

I have been teaching in the DOE for over 25 years. I remember back in the late 90's the UFT gave us black armbands and we marched outside our school building when we were working with a way expired contract. However, I DO NOT FORSEE the UFT making any push whatsoever for a strike. They have fed us to the wolves. It's game over. UFT will not lift a single finger in regards to a strike. And what would we even bother striking for? UFT sold us out on everything from seniority based transfers to the fair student funding.

Anonymous said...

I’m Sticking with my Union!

SHOULD I LAUGH OR CRY?
Fact sheet on your contract!

This is a lie...New salaries: Raises of 2%, 2.5% and 3% produce a three-year compound rate of 7.7 percent, above expert predictions of inflation of 6.2 percent (Federal Reserve Bank) and 6.8 percent (International Monetary Fund).

But all the Democrat candidates want to use federal money to fund raises for teachers and say we are underpaid, plus, we live in NYC, consider cost of living. At the end of the contract period, new teachers will earn $61,070; teachers with a master’s and 10 years of experience will earn $101,441; and the new top salary will be $128,657.

Wow, in addition to the money we should have had 11 years ago, in addition to money that has eroded against inflation, and has gotten zero interest.The new contract raises are in addition to lump-sum payments negotiated as part of 2014 contract, including the payment this month and others payable in October of 2019 and 2020.

Anonymous said...

Proof is proof. No more dues unless this turns around.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to pipe in om 9:57am's comment. Many of us cannot afford homes within the boroughs, near our jobs. We all want to achieve the American Dream of owning our own home and we want to provide for our own children. We are in essence forced to look elsewhere to achieve quality of life goals for the betterment of our families. Commuting has in very recent years has become near unsustainable. Consider that which was a 1.4 hour commute and is now near a 3. hour commute with the never ending homework of differentiated lessons for 4-5 levels within each class and now a push for documented Specially Designed Instruction for each special needs student, Teachers are simply being required to work so many hours for free outside the school day because it is our responsibility. The stress level is so great as we marathon late into the evening to meet deadlines because sometimes, to put it frankly, we are just overwhelmed after sitting in traffic for 3 hours to get home after waking at 3am to make sure we beat the traffic and get to work in enough time to find a parking spot we cannot physically do any more that day and crash. Danielson does not recognize this type of condition. In the end, someone loses and is usually our family who is not getting the best of us. We also carry that with us as well.
Forget Transfers for Veterans!!!! Transfers are non existent for us. We are stuck awaiting to improve the hit we are going to take with our pensions, we are waiting to lessen the blow.

Anonymous said...

The defeatist comments are pathetic (not you, James, the commenters). You are the Union. This is not “fee for service,” this is a democracy, if you think leadership sold you out, then get involved and change leadership. They depend on demoralizing, apathetic whiners like you to keep the rank-and-file from ever doing anything. Jesus. I haven’t seen a quorum at a DA almost the entire year, this year. I only saw a quorum once, Chapter meetings, if they ever happen, are a joke (usually two people). Seriously. Step out from the shadows and go to a meeting, We need to overwhelm the UFT with our presence to get some changes, They can no longer hide and intimidate us, Yelling at us when we go to our borough office for help is no longer acceptable in the Janus era, and the staff knows it, And, whomever the clown is who posts about not paying dues should be banned, Non dues payers aren’t allowed at union meetings, and they shouldn’t be allowed on here to advertise their foolishness,

One change that needs to happen is boosting retirement allowance in tiers V and VI. They need to be consolidated into tier IV. Young teachers are guaranteed a long, miserable career right now, and that is why we are seeing record turnover. Slim tenure prospects (with minimal protections *if* they get it), shitty healthcare for the first year, and a miserable, almost non-existent pension at the end, The Union is going to see a sudden collapse in about three, four years, tops, if we don’t do a better job bargaining for newbies, There is a tipping point on the horizon, and Mulgrew seems to know it, based on his talk at the DA. My guess is that he is going to retire or move to DC either next year or the year after, We will be left holding the bag as he dodges the freight train headed our way, it’s time to start organizing now, and change our union’s culture,

James Eterno said...

It's up to all of us 7:55. I could not agree more. If I saw any sign that members are waking up, I will be 100% with that movement.

Anon2323 said...

NYC teacher salaries are really not bad at all considering we have health care as well. Starting salary over 15 years ago was 40,000. After next year, I will have the 18 year longevity bump and make 112,000 base. I mean 128,000 is a solid salary for 22 years. Living in NYC is a disaster with the dems. I cannot make this money doing anything else.

Anonymous said...

Anon2323, do you have mush for brains? How is living in NYC a disaster because of *dems*? First of all, the salary you claim is satisfactory is what it is because of the Dems. Cost of living is high. But, if you think about it, we have a pool of cheap labor mitigating that due to our status as a sanctuary city - a dem policy (brutal exploitation, if you ask me, but counters your point about livability for teachers). The biggest thing killing the livability is the lack of rent control, and that’s mostly due to Republicans. You’re brainwashed, pal. They’ve got you hating minorities so much that you vote against your own interests because you think it makes you somebody.

Anonymous said...

So keep saying how bad it is, say how we have to all stand up because the leadership doesn't for us, read about people wanting to strike, quit, kill themselves, people who cant afford housing, people getting abused by students...Then say to keep paying dues. That is after a 7 and a half year, 10% raise, 1.3% per year, and for me, holding $50K of my money, for over a decade, with no interest. Then, agreeing to another contract, 43 months, 7.5%, backloaded, while inflation is above that. Then throw in the loss of 12/23, while there is no lunar new year or eid this year, so we get 4 snow days we wont use. You guys are real suckers.

Anonymous said...

It’s nice the parents support us, but parents have and are a non- issue for NYC public schools. The DOE publicly touts parental involvement, but does everything possible to keep them uninvolved. (Look at how the DOE engages them over desegregation. It’s like how the UFT engaged the rank and file. They smile and say we hear you, then do whatever they want. Look at all the parents that tried to stop school closings - it didn’t matter.) Under no circumstances does the DOE want parents in the building during the day. Can you imagine if parents saw what goes on in most non-selective high schools? The open drug use, fights, blowjobs in the stairwells and chaos in the classrooms? There’s no way the impotent, timid and emasculated teachers of NYC will ever strike - the UFT has made sure of that. Remember it recently voted down having the right to strike.

James Eterno said...

No union and we are all charter school teachers. See Success Academy for reference.

James Eterno said...

How do you explain LA, Chicago and Oakland parents supporting teachers? They are big cities not that different from NYC.

The red state rebellions made it clear that organized teachers have power with or without their union's leaders.

Some of the people commenting here would be better off in my opinion saying what we could do and not what we can't. However, I do appreciate the negatives being pointed out.

Don't expect UFT leadership to lead any movement for change. They seem quite content. It is up to us.

Anonymous said...

You’re right, Eterno. Here’s what we can do - stage a mass sickout and protest for Dec. 23rd. 2. Start going to the monthly UFT Executive parties and start screaming. 3. Ask you and everyone to join a movement for a separate union. How? Sell it and get folks excited.

James Eterno said...

I wish you were not anonymous. Email me off the blog. If there are a hundred or so others like you out there willing to lead, we can change the world, or at least our little part of it.

Anonymous said...

Right, without mulgrew we wouldn't get 10% over 7 and a half years.

James Eterno said...

Look at what non union teachers make. Please provide some evidence to support your view. There is no precedent for workers dropping unions and getting better salary and working conditions.

Anonymous said...

There's NO CHANCE that NYC teachers will strike. They approve these garbage contracts and don't seem to understand economics. I don't know if teachers used to be smarter/braver decades ago, but this isn't the kind of workforce that has shown any motivation to do anything differently. As much as people on this blog may not like the idea of opting out of the UFT, at least the person doing it has some awareness of what's going on and has made a choice based on that.

James Eterno said...

How about that they are misled by UFT leaders? We are trying to tell another view and need help spreading the word.

Anonymous said...

Thanks UFT...I completed my first full year in the DOE this past ‘18-19 school year. I am from Staten Island and worked at a school in the Bronx. I worked for a terrible administration that bullies and uses intimidation tactics on its staff. I was physically ill often, along with other colleagues, due to the stress and fear alone. We were in constant contact with our union and they told us to document everything, and nothing was ever done about our working conditions. I finished out the school year and had hopes I would find a position (special Ed, I also have my childhood ed license) on Staten Island. I was unable to even get an interview on Staten Island (I hear it is all about connections in SI and since I got my undergrad and masters in upstate NY I don’t have connections here) and now time is up and my only option to remain in the DOE would be to stay at this school again.

There is absolutely no way I can go through another year of that constant fear and mental abuse, on top of the commute and other factors. I am reluctantly thinking my only option to keep my sanity and health is to apply to charter schools in Staten Island and resign from the DOE for this school year, and trying to find a position in the DOE again next school year rescinding my resignation. I know I will be flagged because I can’t give a 30 days notice at this point.

I would really appreciate anyone’s insight into what they would do in my position, and if there is anything I am overlooking. I don’t want to mess up my chances to be in the DOE in the future but this school has really scarred me to the point where I have horrible anxiety just thinking about it, and have constant nightmares about going to work for this administration again. Even if a charter school can be just as bad, at least I’ll be living and commuting in Staten Island instead of commuting to the south Bronx daily. Thank you for any advice!!

Anonymous said...

So you say we are misled, abused, get bad raises, have retro held back, get cursed, abused..But we better keep paying dues to keep things the same. That guarantees things will stay just as bad.

Anonymous said...

If you have days in your CAR, you can still give 30 days notice and resign as of Sept 9. You can still give those 30 days notice.

Anonymous said...

@1:53,
I recently retired and believe it or not, many of us went through exactly what you are going through - including me. (The commute is not the worst possible thing if you’re in a decent school. You can get a horrible school in SI.) What saved me was having two licenses. I gave up one and the horrible school. You could try to do the same. Resign ASAP and apply for other positions under the childhood license. Good luck.

Anonymous said...

Implicit Bias...6 million Jews were murdered just 80 years ago, Asians just got here, unable to speak the language, both groups do just fine.

Passionate Teacher said...

@1:53 wow that sounds like me. I'm in that predicament with the admin, commute, open market fail.

I really like the idea of taking action. We can form a meetup group. Exchange numbers, emails. Do phone meetings. Grow a group of teachers to help give us a voice to our union.

Unions can work, but the strength is in numbers. We have to do a better job of making our common problems know and trying to garner effective and reasonable solutions. I think people fear being blacklisted. Since coming to the Department of Education this past school year, I was shocked at the things teachers put up with. I was shocked teachers willingly accepted that Danielson mess and 15-minute unannounced observations. I was shocked people accepted paying every year for expensive classes to earn credits to keep your license. You are literally giving them your money back. I was shocked people accepted not being allowed to file a grievance for a biased observation. Look at how long it takes to be tenured. This can be better. The administration staff is not held accountable at all. No staff lounges or air-conditioned rooms, printer access, small teacher spending budget, etc.

James Eterno said...

Email us please. We can fight back but we need numbers. You can help lead for sure.

Anonymous said...

The Open market has been a fraud forever. I have been working in Brooklyn, living in Staten Island for 20 years. No UFT help. Have emailed the whole crew thousands of times, all the way to Supes and Chancellor. No change. No interviews. Vacancies, by the dozens still listed on August 7 when Open Market closes? Who is filling the roles. How did 200 vacancies open and close with no interviews.

Anonymous said...

So...no lunar new year, no eid and it is a leap year, and we have 4 snow days...what a scam...but uft cant get 12/23 off.

Anonymous said...

1255 agreed, so we have 6-7 excess days, wow. Keep paying those dues.

James Eterno said...

Keep paying dues and demand the UFT change. Opting out of UFT solves nothing by making union even weaker.

Anonymous said...

Demand? And how would I do that?

James Eterno said...

It is called organizing. There is power in numbers. Complaining anonymously here won't do the job. Come out of your hiding place and get others to see we can fight back. If organizing has failed in the past, keep trying. Don't give up.

Anonymous said...

The guy above wrote that he emailed uft thousands of times about a transfer. Did he give up or screwed?

James Eterno said...

He did not give up but he should combine with many others who can't transfer, form or join a group and demand change. It is possible. UFT will not change until membership demands it. Stop waiting for it to come from above. Change comes from rank and file.

Anonymous said...

I was just going through some old papers...The 2002 contract gave us 16% compounded over 3 years, 4 plus 5 plus 6. Can you imagine. Now we get 1.3% per year over 7 and a half years. The 2005 deal, all retro paid immediately. This time, over 11 years with no interest. Yeah, glad I opted out.

James Eterno said...

2005 was the worst contract ever with so many givebacks. 2002 and 2005 only had extra money in them because we added time to our school day. Time for money swaps.I am starting to doubt you are a teacher if you cite those as examples of good UFT contracts.

Anonymous said...

What? You wouldnt take 16% over 3 years for 10 minutes a day extra? We just got 10% over 7 and a half years, with no gains anywhere else, and delayed retro

James Eterno said...

Look at all of the other givebacks from 2005, including creating the ATRs. It was not 16% over three years.

Anonymous said...

2002 was 4 plus 5 plus 6. 2005 was 15% over 4 and a half years I think.

James Eterno said...

2002 was retroactive to 2000 and expired in 2003. 2005 was retroactive to 2005 and was to expire in 2007 but there was an early contract in 2006.

Anonymous said...

Ok, still way more financially, with Bloomberg. And we got the 2005 retro on the spot, not 11 years later

James Eterno said...

From a 2005 post:


Inflation is at an annual rate of 4.1% according to the U.S. Department of Labor for our area ending August 2005. When you calculate the annual rate of the proposal it equals 3.46% and that’s with the givebacks. Rates for new teachers, per session and coverages are even lower.

So, who does this proposal benefit? Not anyone working in a school. However, if you are an elected or appointed union leader receiving a salary from the Union I guarantee you will be getting a 15% raise in the very near future if this passes.

Anonymous said...

The 2005 contract DESTROYED teaching, teachers and large schools. It destroyed seniority transfer rights, ushered in school closings, ATRs, schools as businesses, non - educators as principals, shared facilities, closed teacher lounges and cafeterias, charter schools and so much more. Randi Weingarten should rot in hell.

Anonymous said...

Please do not undervalue yourselves. I am at step 13 have plus 30 and make $98,650 a year not even a 6 figure salary. I only make this salary because I have a Master's AND 30 extra credits that I had to PAY FOR. NO tuition reimbursement for higher education like in business. I cannot afford to purchase a home in the area I grew up in in NYC. My high school only educated parents bought a home in the area, siblings who did not go to college, pay for 2 degrees and extra 30 credits had more saved because they saved for so many more years that me. I spent my money to teach.
Our salary is a joke. We do the work of 3 PEOPLE and are paid a low wage for people who have so much education that we OURSELVES funded. Many, many people make well over $100,000 a year. A high school educated NYC garbage person can retire with full pension after 22 years(used to be 20).NYC garbage workers earn over $70,000 after 4 years on the job with NO EDUCATION. More than a teacher!!! WHY DO THEY GET THIS??? THEY HAVE A BETTER UNION!!!!!!!
WE ARE NOT BEING PAID ENOUGH TO SURVIVE WITHOUT TAKING SECOND JOBS AND TELLING OUR KIDS WE CAN'T AFFORD THINGS. Medical?? Free?? COpays $30 a pop, then lab bills for another $20. It adds up. Raises not keeping up with inflation-disgusting and unacceptable.
Danielson? WOrking Dec 23rd? No Discipline just restorative circles??? WTF OUR UNION IS A DISGRACE AND A JOKE. WE NEED BETTER, STRONGER REPRESENTATION FROM OUR UNION. A UNION THAT WORKS FOR US NOT ONE THAT IS CLEARLY ON THE TAKE.