SCHOOL BUDGET CUTS; WORKERS FIGHTING BACK; 30 UFT COVID-19 DEATHS; MULGREW'S HOLIDAY EMAIL

I understand readers saying that giving up spring break is no big deal in the midst of a pandemic. However, I think everyone needs to review Naomi Klein's, The Shock Doctrine.  We have to be very careful that we aren't robbed while we are too preoccupied with surviving to notice we are being fleeced.

A summary from Wikipedia:
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism is a 2007 book by the Canadian author and social activist Naomi Klein. In the book, Klein argues that neoliberal free market policies (as advocated by the economist Milton Friedman) have risen to prominence in some developed countries because of a deliberate strategy of "shock therapy". This centers on the exploitation of national crises (disasters or upheavals) to establish controversial and questionable policies, while citizens are excessively distracted (emotionally and physically) to engage and develop an adequate response, and resist effectively.

We certainly aren't looking too closely now as the school budgets have already been slashed for next school year.

From silive.com:

The New York City Department of Education (DOE) is getting hit with $264 million in budget cuts due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, city officials have announced.

The cuts to the DOE are part of a $1.3 billion program to reduce spending. Budget cuts were also made across other areas -- including public safety, transportation, sanitation, health and social services.

The biggest cut taking effect next fiscal year is $100 million from the Fair Student Funding formula.

Further down:

The DOE said it is working closely with the city Office of Management and Budget to ensure savings for Fair Student Funding is done equitably and with minimal impact to a school’s day-to-day functions. However, the agency said it expects schools to see changes in their budget.

This is just the beginning. The economy is not going anywhere. Only a federal bailout of states and cities will help. I have no clue if it's coming.

For anyone looking for positive news, some working people in this crisis refuse to just do as they are told.

This is from PayDay Report:

So far, we’ve identified over 35 wildcat strikes that happened in the last month alone. (Several larger strikes like at Instacart and Whole Foods happened in multiple cities).

We suspect many strikes aren’t reporting at all for a variety of reasons and that the numbers are higher than we can track. 

There are lack of reporters on the labor beat and many workers don’t know how to contact reporters at all.

In other instances, we have heard of plant managers shutting down workplaces after a large number of workers simply called in sick. In other facilities, some workers have walked off the job; only to return shortly after bosses make promises to improve things. 

For these reasons, we believe that the number of strikes occurring are vastly underrepresented.

Don't expect union leaders to guide you. Working people are thinking and acting on their own behalf. That is good news. I have a feeling that the number of people calling in sick in certain jobs might not all be due to them having COVID-19.

UFT Coronavirus Deaths

When we take into account that UFT members are not working in school buildings presently, theoretically one would think there would be a low number of UFT fatalities if UFTers are following guidelines on social distancing and staying home. I don't know if this is a low or high number because there are so many who work for the DOE but the NY Post  is reporting on UFT fatalities.

 This was written by Selim Algar:

More than 30 members of the United Federation of Teachers — including retired staff — have been reported by family members to have died from coronavirus, a union source said.

Shellshocked kin have been contacting the organization to alert officials to the cases in increasing numbers, the source said.

While he did not specify that they died from COVID-19, UFT president Michael Mulgrew read out the names of 26 recently deceased members at a somber meeting of the union’s executive board Monday.

At least five additional coronavirus-linked deaths have been added to the UFT’s grim tally in just two days since that meeting, the union source said. The union’s membership includes both teachers and other staff.

Teachers have ripped the Department of Education for not providing a public inventory of their fallen colleagues.

Selim later cites that union source to say a small number of the deaths were from retirees but most were active workers.

This is tragic. It appears that Reality-Based Educator, Bronx ATR, EdNotes once, and yours truly are the only ones holding the UFT accountable in any way for what has occurred. I strongly believe the Union had an obligation to tell its members in no uncertain terms to leave infected school buildings but the UFT was more interested in not violating the Taylor's Law's prohibition against strikes by public employees in NYS than protecting member lives. The UFT would lose automatic dues checkoff if we were to strike. In the end, the Union was shown as incredibly weak.

There is no need to worry, however, because President Michael Mulgrew sent us an uplifting holiday greeting. I too hope you enjoy your holiday, even if you choose to work instead of spending all of the time with family tomorrow and Friday as this blog proposed.

Dear James,

As we continue to grapple with this crisis, I want to take a moment to wish a happy Passover and happy Easter to those of you who will be celebrating.

I know that for most of us, the holidays will look different this year. We may be videoconferencing with our families instead of gathering with them in person. We may be streaming our Seders and church services rather than visiting our houses of worship. But I hope that the spirit of your celebrations remains the same. 

This evening, many will sit down for the first Passover Seder. It’s tradition to end a Seder with the farewell, “Next year in Jerusalem!” Just as Easter represents a time of rebirth for many of us, I look forward next year to the renewal of in-person celebrations with our families, friends and faith-based communities.

Until then, I hope that your holiday traditions bring you comfort in this difficult time. I have faith that we will get through this crisis together. 

Stay safe and healthy. 

Sincerely,

Michael Mulgrew
UFT President