I hope everyone is doing well,
I am writing to let you know of the latest developments that will affect all of us. As you know, we have been trying to discuss with NYC and the DOE a safe reopening of our schools. We began in April, but the city didn’t show up until July. Our union president had made it clear to the city and the DOE that our schools needed to be safe before reopening, before anyone walked into a building. Michael Mulgrew has held several town hall meetings with our members and consistently heard from them their anxiety about a possible reopening in less than safe conditions. We will continue to discuss with NYC and the DOE the safe reopening of our buildings but as announced at Wednesday’s press conference, before a school building reopens it must have the following:
1. A school must have all the items described in the checklist you may access at https://www.uft.org/sites/default/files/attachments/coronavirus-school-checklist.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1rb9sUcrRF2GdCc7Qajsi8utZadDIyH8TFQLvcUf5WjN09MdAjfynwdlE
Each school will be visited by a trained UFT member to gather this data.
2. Each school has to have a reopening committee, creating protocols for the movement of students into our school, while in our school, and on their way out of our school, and how to respond to possible problems.
3. The city must require every person that enters our school (including students and staff) to be tested before they come into our building.
The science backs up what the UFT is demanding, what we are demanding. There cannot be a safe reopening of our schools without getting these things in place, but the city has dragged their feet, and with just a few weeks before the reopening of our buildings we find ourselves possibly going to an unsafe workplace. Our school would be unsafe for us, unsafe for our loved ones, unsafe for our students, and unsafe for the community we serve.
Mayor DeBlasio is stubborn, and he doesn’t think we remember he kept the schools open too long. He doesn’t remember that dozens of our colleagues throughout the city passed away from COVID 19. He doesn’t remember how many of our parents we lost, but we remember. It is true that we want a return to normalcy, but we can’t pretend it is normal if we are forced to risk our lives and the lives of those around us. We will continue to talk to the mayor, we will continue to find allies in parents and politicians, and while we do this, we must also prepare to take action if he doesn’t change his mind. We need to be willing to do a job action, possibly a strike. This is NOT theoretical. This may happen in just a few days. Your commitment to support a job action MUST be real if we are to succeed. Again, we will do everything possible to avert the sacrifice we might have to make if we decide to go on a strike, BUT we will WIN if we stick together. We will WIN if none of us enter our building, we will WIN if none of us with accommodations work remotely. This is the power of OUR UNION. If we don’t stick together now, over an issue of life and death for ourselves, our loved ones, our students, our community, when will we stand together? We cannot be part of an experiment.
In the next few days, I will be reaching out to you for commitment, help in planning the strike in our school, and encouragement. I am hopeful that there will be a resolution without us taking part of a job action, but that resolution will never happen if the mayor thinks we are not serious, of if he thinks we are not united. We have to show him. We have no choice.
Fraternally,
105 comments:
Remember Woody Guthrie, a proud Brooklyn boy who stood up against all forms of oppression. This land is your land. But, for the grace and (union) go we."Power concedes nothing without a demand." Frederick Douglas
And we WILL be laid off en masse.
I saw a quick clip of Randy saying that if we strike it would be considered a 'safety' strike, but she didn't elaborate on what that meant. Does anyone know what a safety strike entails?
I think you get 2 points and the ball is kicked off to you.
Hey Bryan, Saying the strike is for safety is very important because it is an attempt to get around the Taylor Law's prohibition on strikes in NYS. We have a contractual right to a safe work environment. The DOE is violating our right. The grievance process is not useful here because our safety and the student safety is at risk. Hence, the need for a safety strike.
The doe says they aren't violating, schools are safe.
That is why there are courts and PERB. Our hand is much stronger if we are all together on this, united not in the buildings.
If that's the route the union needs to take to protect everybody, I hope union lawyers are ready to overwhelm a judge with evidence of the union trying to work with the city to open. From the union standpoint, it sounds like they do.
CCSD
@ClarkCountySch
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8m
Superintendent's Welcome to 2020-21 School Year video as students start school with distance learning at https://eduvision.tv/l?gOROgL.
@SuptJaraCCSD
#1ForKids
Standing up for the working class.
Hum. So if schools are safe, why has the DOE made safety allowances for some educators who have medical conditions?
Staying hydrated is an important factor in keeping your immunity strong. Water fountains are definitely a no-go. It will be interesting to watch them drink from their water bottles through their masks. Us too. :/
This notion of masks staying on throughout the day is a non-reality. What about kids/teachers who have hay fever, can they blow their nose, or do they just stay home?
What are the demands? Who decided a strike was a course of action? Why not just start remote in sept? That would solve all the problems especially the money shortage?
What are the demands? Who decided a strike was a course of action? Why not just start remote in sept? That would solve all the problems especially the money shortage?
The problem is there are various science data being used. Some data suggests that 8x the amount of people have had covid. This is based on anti-body testing and asymptomatic estimations. That takes our 236K total cases to over 1.8M. With 23600 deaths that's a 1% death rate. A rate probably lower when you factor in nursing home deaths, improper ventilator use deaths, and other poor diagnosis and treatment early on. 1.8M of 8.3M is 22% which some believe is enough for effective herd immunity.
The numbers are there to open as well.
If someone opted out, they still strike?
Why would the remote teachers agree to strike when they are getting paid to stay home?
Before a job action, the delegate assembly must vote. Today was an emergency borough assembly to inform the Chapters (CLs & Delegates) of a possible job action and the next steps - such as outreach to their members (next week).
Let us hope that the voice of reason and the science that supports it will prevail. That the CSA, UFT, and all the other unions will together convince the Mayor and Chancellor to go full remote until the schools are ready (or as ready as possible).
The thought of a strike (or any job action) frightens the hell out of me, and some of my members have already voiced a similar concern. We're afraid of not being able to pay the rent, or mortgage, student loans or car payments. But there's one thing we're more afraid of - COVID; passing it on to a loved one; or hearing about the loss of yet another parent of one of our students.
Things can be replaced; people can't. We've already lost some good people and friends. If we must strike to protect ourselves, our families, our students, then we do so together.
We'll help each other through it.
Have a safe weekend all.
https://nypost.com/2020/08/21/de-blasio-has-no-plan-for-return-of-indoor-dining-in-nyc/
This is rich! You can't eat in a restaurant, but you can in a classroom.
I can’t believe all the people who kept complaining that the UFT is weak and do nothing and now that they are starting to act like a real union so many of you are acting like a wimpy child.
Grow up - if you are not going to fight for your own lives and the lives of others, what’s the point.
Will students in high school stay in one classroom or will they move about when the period ends? 1 min isn't nearly enough to sanitize a classroom. Many hs hallways and stairways are so narrow. How is this safe. The optic of Diblasio and carranza confuguring chairs and walking down a school hallway as if to say look how safe this is, is stunning.
Ok so... do you all remember how Mulgrew & the Union has said REPEATEDLY and STRONGLY that remote teaching and face-to-face teaching are 2 different jobs? NOT THE SAME PERSON! Well, then why is pretty much every principal in New York City scheduling it as if it is one job? These schedules/cohorts are due Wednesday to parents and are being made this way. When or WILL the Union hold strong on this?
Supposedly, administrators are being given that direction since there are not enough staff members to do scheduling differently (NO DUH) and Union has not really reached any agreement on that and "is just talk". Ummm... I don't know. Is it just Mulgrew talking because they don't care?
Sprin Break pay that we are suing for? when can i expect it?
Many have said we are nowhere near herd immunity and to get there we would have a lot of death and suffering.
Anonymous 8:43 you will stand in solidarity with us by not posting lessons, or engaging in any way. Your union fought for the opportunity for you to file for a medical accommodation, so I would expect you to stand with us.
9:05 said "I can’t believe all the people who kept complaining that the UFT is weak and do nothing and now that they are starting to act like a real union so many of you are acting like a wimpy child."
It's not a case of not supporting the union. Not all believe striking is the right action. It's about having a voice and not blindly following.
But those on remote will be marked present and not striking.
Another sign @NYCSchools isn't ready to reopen. Ugh.
High School Principals... please open the box and check your facemasks... We just received ours. The student ones are all child sized.Woman facepalming @kirisoares2 @lukebauer33 @JChetirko
9:40 that would be surprising if that happens.
I'm essential, stop with the 1% raises.
After reading all the BS Deblasio is saying about returning to school there is no way we are going back in September. Cuomo is not sending the money the city needs to open. Carranza himself said without the funds he doesn't have the money to reopen. So let's not keep worrying about going back and we will sit back and watch the Cuomo Deblasio finger pointing continue. We realize that both these guys suck and don't know anything about schools!!!
It is August 21st. I am an experienced teacher of 23 years. I have not received any training concerning zoom or live online teaching. Nothing! If this is my experience then it is the experience of countless others. No one is talking about this. Does anyone feel the same way?
Newsday article: "Virus spread low, but Cuomo says 'a lot of questions' remain on schools reopening" By David Olson and Newsday Staff August 21, 2020 -
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said sending children into New York City public schools next month "is a risky proposition."
Cuomo said during a morning interview on NBC's "Today" show that he "would have a lot of questions" if he had to decide whether to send his children to city schools when they are scheduled to reopen Sept. 10.
Cautious on schools reopening
In his "Today" appearance, the governor was cautious in his optimism when asked about his confidence in the plan to reopen New York City schools.
Noting the state's low infection rate, he said, "If there's any state that can reopen schools, it's us. … It then becomes a question of school district by school district. It's how you do it."
When asked if he would send his children to New York City public schools, if they were of school age, he said, "Well, they're still working out what the plan would be. I would have a lot of questions. … This is a risky proposition no matter how you do it."
He continued, "You're bringing a lot of people into a congregant setting. Do you have the testing, do you have the tracing, do you have the social distance requirements?"
The governor said that "if the parents aren't happy and confident and if the teachers aren't confident, then you don't have a school district reopening."
Cuomo noted that schools and colleges elsewhere have opened and quickly run into problems.
"If it's not a smart plan, then it shouldn't happen and we have 700 school districts. I'm sure we're going to have 700 different answers in New York," Cuomo said.
Cuomo during a news conference stated it's the parents and teachers that will decide if schools should reopen.
Why isn't Mulgrew asking the million dollar question of why it is okay to open schools and allow eating in classrooms but not allow gyms to open and not allow indoor dining? I want to hear the mayor's answer to that.
Mulgrew will never strike. He will never risk losing the automatic dues check off. It’s all posturing to try to force deBlasio‘s hand. It won’t work, Cuomo will have to do it, but he’ll exact a high price from us, via Mulgrew agreement, for deBlasio’s castration.
10:32. You are a teacher of 23 years. We have been remote since late March. You have been off since June 28th and on August 21st you say you have not received Zoom or other live online training.
I am going to be completely honest that statement is completely unacceptable as a professional. It is your job to know how or you seek information or training. Do what I did when I had to learn about google classroom, slides, meet, etc.- I asked my 10 year old. Most of this takes literally minutes to learn.
Spoke to a couple of remote teachers. They’re planning on not striking. They’re working from other states too since they don’t have to come in.
The opening suburban districts in the N.Y. metro area that I know of ALL are doing partial days - up to four hours - with NO lunch in school. Kids go home at 12 - come for morning OR afternoon. No eating.
As far as the DOE, I’ve never seen an upper floor classroom with window guards. You can open windows from the top only, but if a child needs to remove a mask to blow his nose, he/she needs to be able to stand facing an open window at their height. Windows need window guards.
I know we let everyone have their say here but at this time of strike talk, can we ban TeachNY as extremely undermining of teacher morale. TeachNY seems to be a spokesperson for the mayor. TeachNY is purposely attempting to divide us to weaken the UFT's bargaining position.Can TeachNY find a platform somewhere else? Perhaps TeachNY can start the scab blog.
Of course some teachers will choose to do whatever the bosses tell them to do.
Of course some will argue that they simply can't take the risk.
Of course some people will undermine our efforts. Most of these people will members of our union.
This is how union work goes.
Unions, contrary to the narrative of traditional textbooks were not weakened and, mostly done in by McCarthyism or Reagan or even global capital, but by unions. Yes, we dismembered ourselves. We bored ourselves out from the inside. That is why we must have solidarity. We must stick together. We don't need everyone and we will be better off without those who, when they lose the vote, still oppose us, we only need the majority to be strong and stick together.
We want to hear dissent. We want to know who our opponents, in the union, are.
When and if we vote, we want everyone to support the vote, irrespective of the outcome and how they voted. But we can't be naive. Solidarity is never about every last one of us agreeing to everything. It is about most of us standing up for ourselves and for the work we believe in.
Get up! Stand up!
Stay in one classroom.
I never said I would scab. I said I would refuse to vote yes to a strike if given the vote. Just because I disagree doesn’t mean I want to divide. All of a sudden the union wants to strike. Not in the past when classrooms have been out of control, abusive admin, etc....
We had a teacher who had a condom of iron thrown at her and NOTHING happened. Where was the union then?????? We had a teacher whose jacket got peed on. And the union said..”it’s not worth fighting...” so sorry if I question anything they say. I don’t blindly follow them.
TeachNY's own words from Wednesday:
TeachNYWednesday, August 19, 2020 5:47:00 PM
I can’t believe it. I really refuse to strike. I simply cannot afford to.
Sounds pretty scabby and divisive to me. I to me.That is the first comment.
I guess i will be banned too when things return to "normal" and i speak up when many of you re-start haranguing the "lowlife" students and their "single parent" welfare parents. TeachNY has a different take on the decision to strike. Just because YOU are now experiencing what I have been saying too often on this blog: "the doe/uft doesn't care about students and they don't care about educators so educators should come together to push back" and "Don't pass those who don't attend school or fail". Nope. Too many of you looked away or called me names. However NOWWW you want everyone to strike because YOUR life and the life of YOUR loved ones is potentially in danger. Newsflash Passing kids. Graduating kids. Relegates them and their children to a certain income/lifestyle,community for generations. As we all know, many of these same students who received a
diploma mill education are now essential workers. Some must live in packed households. Covid was rampant thru these communities. Their lives and the lives of their families ARE IMPORTANT TOO. So is TeachNY to assume that it's now strike time because YOU and YOUR loved ones are in danger? TeachNY is ready to go to work. TeachNY is simply behaving as many of you behaved about the destruction of education in inner cities i.e. it's not my problem. TeachNY is looking out for TeachNY. The lesson here is to Always do the right thing. Treat others the way you wish to be treated and look out for your brother/sister even if they aren't ready to look out for themselves. Fight to use the degree you earned. We are professionals. First they came for the students of NYC (Martin Niemoller). Finally, I may not agree with TeachNY but I hope he's not banned. Stay safe.
8:19. My son in a suburban district is going two days a week full days. My niece in an upstate district same plan. However both districts gave the students eating lunch in the cafeteria with dividers. Not perfect but better than in classroom. My district also flat out said that any student refusing to wear mask will be removed from school, forcibly if need be.
Also funny how you are angry with me, yet we have anonymous people saying “Who cares? Fire all tier 6 people.” If that’s not a poor example of what “unity”
Is, I don’t know what is!
We are supposed to educate ALL students regardless of income, race, religion,etc. EDUCATE.They should graduate better educated and capable. Anything or anyone standing in the way of our doing our job should be removed and shown what's acceptable. That removal can be students administrators DOE or UFT. Now the president has declared teachers as essential workers as if we are tools. "Wake up all the teachers, time to teach a new way. Maybe then they'll listen to what you have to say. Cause they're the ones who are coming up and the world is in their hands. When you teach the children, teach them the best that you can." MG
TeachNY, you have the right to do what you feel is right and not be vilified for it. The UFT is not a dictatorship, as much as Mulgrew may think it is. Why would any teacher blindly follow HIM?! He exemplifies cowardice and betrayal. Where were all these unionists when ATRs were getting shafted continuously for the past 15 years and when he agreed to expedited a termination for us? I didn’t see anyone willing to march or bitch for us. We were your union brothers and sisters. Now when this virus potentially affects many individually, they are up in arms. Many of the teachers that don’t want to go back to school aren’t doing it over Covid, let’s be honest, many loathe teaching and I don’t blame them, but it’s more than a little hypocritical to attack somebody with a different view because you have your own agenda. If there are teachers who want to go into schools and do not feel that there is a risk involved, which is actually a logical conclusion based on the statistics, then they should be allowed to do so. Newbies will never vote to strike. I personally support whatever the rank and file votes for, not what Mulgrew decides. The only reason the teachers are in danger from Covid is the utter incompetence of the DeBlasio administration and Uft leadership. Mulgrew will NEVER strike because he will not risk the automatic dues check off. Remember March 17, 18 and 19th. Mulgrew’s teaming up with our biggest enemy Cuomo to close the schools. Stop attacking TeachNY.
TeachNY,
Those 2 incidents are awful and I’m sorry your colleagues had to go through them. That is so demoralizing.
Sadly, this is teaching in NYC. It is also the reason why I will not go out of my way to ‘kill myself’ or ‘bust my back side’ anymore bc when things don’t go your way, help is tough to find.
I hope your colleagues are still in the system and will receive a pension one day bc that’s all that counts.
Be well!
So it sounds like Boston just came up with a plan that nobody else has thought of as far as I know . It also seems to be far and away the most sensible plan so i am wondering why everywhere doesn't do this.
Schools open remote only but all teachers(no "accommodations") work from inside the classrooms so that they have access to equipment and supplies for remote. In other words for the first month or so only teachers and administrators are inside the buildings. Plenty of room for distancing.
Then slowly kids are brought back with youngest and and most needy(75) first followed at intervals by others up the ladder.
If there are any initial outbreaks it would be much easier to contain and track and eliminate.
This plan makes the NYC plan of just opening the doors and crossing fingers seem even more stupid and reckless.
As a remote teacher of family of four on one income, I’ll do the safety strike because we stand together or we fail union and humanity. DOE unsafe for all students, teachers and other school staff PERIOD.
👏👏👏exactly. As a remote teacher I support safety strike =Equality! Save Our students, their families & communities, & ourselves.
If I’m not mistaken they have to call in sick bc ppl will notice they’re not working.
@TeachNY As someone who has had to deal with the union and given bs responses that benefit the DOE instead of backing teachers. The problem is Mulgrew and Unity. They have a large following of unaware teachers and the support of many chapter leaders. We need to vote them out next election.
I actually really like that. All teachers report for remote, but no kids in building.
It’s awful. It’s incidents like those that make me feel betrayed by the union. There are countless other examples of my colleagues calling the union and being told to “pick your battles.” Yes, we have good health benefits, pension, etc...but working conditions are pretty awful. I just never felt supported by the union.
Salaries ‘gone wild’: Carranza cronies pocket pay hikes as high as 35%
By Susan EdelmanAugust 17, 2019 | 10:19pm | Updated
No, don't like it. Wont travel on bus and train and then be in building with others.
Do your schools have good bandwidth/ internet? My school has serious issues with bandwidth. It would be idiocy to travel across the borough(s) to your school to teach online so that the internet can crash.
I voted against Mulgrew and the contract. My union members did not agree, and I have not opted out of paying dues, because I have stood as one with members of my corrupt ass union. I was against teacher evaluations, and I tried to get union members at my school to sign your petition, but they didn't.
Now, I don't believe that striking would benefit the teaching profession in the long run. I feel that allowing de Blasio and Carranza to open up and completely mess things up in a matter of a week will be better. But I'm going to have to stand united with members of my corrupt ass union again if they vote to strike. I will not be happy, just as I wasn't happy to see Mulgrew get voted in last time.
Accommodation for 1, accommodation for all.
Yeah, really, I'm supposed to go from staten island to Manhattan on a bus, train and ferry while others stay home? Not fair.
Absolutely BronxATR. And educators have rightly been scared and stressed about their wellbeing since March. Now some want to strike (again rightly) in order to stand up for themselves. We are talking about in a span of FIVE months educators have had ENOUGH (rightly) and are willing to risk everything to save the life of their loved ones. Perfect. However, i am now giving the side eye. Many of you will curse out, berate people and try to shut down other people when they decide to march/strike for the lives of their family and friends. Yes it is an emergency now and everyone should pull together but maybe when your fellow HUMAN BEINGS stand up and demand fair treatment you will stand with them, even if it ain't got sh#% to do with you. That's how it works. You stand for me
so I will be ready to stand for you--even if we are scared. "I'll tell you what freedom is to me. No fear." Nina Simone.
Peace
de Blasio and Carranza are bluffing, and we'd be falling right into their trap with a strike. They would look like saviors who did everything they could to get students back into school (not even close to true). We would look like entitled pricks who didn't want to return from our summer vacation.
Then, heaven forbid we strike and win the right to work remotely and actually expect our retro, ~7hr workday, paid holidays. Oh lord.
How has school planning been going for blended learning? Well? Imagine if we'd just allow them to do it. Teachers can use their days if they are worried about going in. It would not last longer than 1 week. They would have to go remote anyway. I don't trust Mulgrew AT ALL.
By the way James, I want to say thank you to you for this blog, and for letting voices be heard - even when you don't agree. You, Chaz, Perdido and Arthur - your blogs helped me get through my first year of teaching and I've been reading for over a decade.
I have so much respect for you, but I don't agree that this strike is going to be good for teachers, or the teaching profession in the long run. We should be making them dig themselves in the hole they're trying to march us into.
The last time the UFT asked us to take a strike authorization vote was 2002. I strongly supported it and was proud to serve on the strike committee. Then Chancellor Harold O Levy did not take our threat seriously. I remember riding home from relatives in NJ and listening to Levy while waiting for the traffic report on WCBS radio. He was so dismissive when asked about about a strike. He said in the most condescending way when asked about a strike, "There isn't going to be a teacher's strike." I was so angry. I think I missed the traffic. We soon thereafter settled and didn't get the most favorable terms. They didn't take us seriously.
When a union does not have a real strike threat, that union is done basically.
This is our chance to get our dignity back as teachers-workers. Don't screw it up. We need to be unified with our union leadership. We can fight about the outcome later.
I am having panic attacks for the first time in my life. My heart beating out of my chest, nausea, stomach hurting...in the middle of the night. I am not sleeping. This is now happening three to four times a night and I am exhausted. I am remote and will not need to go into a school building, so it's not that. Any ideas on how to cope with this?
*When a union does not have a real strike threat, that union is done basically.
It's not just a strike threat. Teachers don't stand together on a day to day basis like cops, sanitation and firefighters do. I can bet that there are teachers who are calling for a strike over blended vs remote that wouldn't piss on an ATR if they were on fire. They wouldn't stand up for a colleague who is being abused by admin because they want to curry favor.
Teachers should know that now, there are others that aren't afraid to go back, that would not want to strike, but are going to risk their livelihoods for those that are afraid. They better prepare to fight the outcome, and not forget.
Perhaps this can be the means for us to remember that union solidarity.
Parents in New York City are ‘Baffled’ that @NYCMayor has no plan to test all entering schools https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/education/2020/08/20/parents--baffled--that-mayor-has-no-plan-to-test-all-entering-schools?cid=share_twitter
@UFT
Great idea, why doesnt CSA just strike, schools cant open without supervisors.
@2:16 PM - Breathe in slowly and breathe out. Repeat until you have gained some focus. Visualize a pleasant event/moment in your life and know that everything will be okay. Then do something that will bring you happiness. Go out for a walk, read a book, etc.
As for what is occurring between the union, DOE and the city just know this was long over due and bound to happen. Release the tension.
"Remember Woody Guthrie, a proud Brooklyn boy who stood up against all forms of oppression."
Thanks for the laugh! Woody bent over good and hard for Stalin and every other Communist killer. Red-diaper baby dreams do die hard, it seems.
2:52 PM - Yes they should be the ones to strike. The ridiculous blended learning plans they are expected to create and implement should be a good motivation.
"Mulgrew will never strike. He will never risk losing the automatic dues check off."
There's no guarantee this would happen. Courts get involved. The last time after the 1975 strike I think it took 5 or 6 years to lose dues checkoff and only for a year I think. There may have been a fine for the union but there is a lot of leeway.
What will definitely happen I believe is the two for one penalty and possibly loss of tenure for a year. But if striking helps save your life two for one penalty won't kill you -- and the money the DOE saves might go to cut layoffs.
There is a thought going around that this strike is actually strategic way to close the schools and forgo paying us for April and possibly October retro. There is some credibility to it and Mulgrew is part of it as a backroom deal. Think about it:
-Mulgrew unilaterally throws out the idea to strike.
-This fires up the rank and file because let's face it not one district can meet the testing guidelines suggested
-Union forces a vote and by calling it a "safety strike" could get a enough votes to push it through by playing on fears.
-Time comes we strike. Schools stay shut for a few days.
-Strike ends as full remote is announced and negotiations lead to no current salary lost but spring break and retro are givebacks.
-This appeases many, especially new teachers who weren't affected by retro and possible layoffs averted.
It was explained like that to me and it makes sense. Mulgrew has never, ever taken a stand this strongly and I don't believe he is now. The schools can't open, we all know that. Diblasio actually needs us to strike. It's the only way he comes out ahead. We are walking right into this.
No offense but do you really think Mulgrew deBlasio and Carranza are smart enough to pull off that much of a Machiavellian type scheme?
Thanks WFS, I appreciate the kind words and a fellow ATR who knows what we had to deal from everyone - DOE, UFT and most outrageously other teachers.
Hi Norm, if the automatic check off for dues are lifted even for a short period of time, many teachers, especially who view the ‘profession’ as a temporary position, the ones who want to save a buck and the completely disenfranchised will not return to the UFT, ever. Mulgrew know that all too well, as he has built the foundation for that mindset.
@7:02, I wrote the same thing a couple of days ago. It rests on a large assumption - that Mulgrew is much smarter than he looks, speaks, writes and acts - the jury is out on that though.
What’s the definite is that Mulgrew is working with Cuomo. What many teachers seem to have forgotten is a Cuomo is not our friend. I’m tired of arguing with teachers who think Cuomo is the best thing since cream cheese. If, When?, he gets the chance he’ll handover every NYC public school to Eva Moskowitz. Don’t forget it.
This is 7:02---We can say all we want about di Blasio, Carranza and Mulgrew but you don't reach their positions without some kind of intelligence. These are not stupid people and to think that is to greatly underestimate them and their political abilities. These are people who understand what is happening in far more detail than any of us. The further away from the bull's eye you are in the organization chart the less you know. They are the bull's eye and we are more than a few rungs beneath.
I don't know 1:02 and he said basically the same thing. Maybe I made the plan sound more complicated than it is but it makes sense.
UFT strikes, schools close, strike ends as schools go 100% remote, they withhold spring and retro.
Not that complicated.
It's really not that Machiavellian. Mulgrew was already hinting at how he'd be ok to give back retro, and us getting paid for spring break is not even brought up by Mulgrew. It seems kind of plausible. I don't trust him.
To 7:02,
Pushing Mulgrew aside for a moment, have you considered that this entire reopening plan is one gigantic ploy on the part of Carranza and DaBozo to extort money from the Federal Government?
Carranza's latest email was very telling. Reading between the lines, I got the impression that HE KNOWS that this hybrid scheme is going to fail. It's like he's expecting us to go full remote and eventually deal with layoffs.
If that's the case, then perhaps this big push on the part of DaBozo to open schools is a way to show Trump, "Hey, we really really want to open schools. Look at us! Please give us money!"
Then people get sick, the virus spreads, the schools all go remote, and NYC might get funding because they at least tried to open schools, which is what Trump wanted.
Carranza seems to be implying that if this pushback keeps up, schools won't open at all and layoffs will be imminent.
The strike wouldn't have to last that long to take equal retro back pay. If a teacher is owed $10K for example. That could be 12 total strike days when taking away salary. However, not every teacher is owed that much and the new teachers are owed $0. That 2 for 1 basically becomes 4 for 1 when you consider the retro because for every teacher getting retro there is one or 2 not getting it. maybe even 6 to 1. All of a sudden a 4 day strike equals all of that back pay. We then go full remote and don't miss the 180 days. In an ironic ending congress reaches a deal for funding and the city gets their money anyway but because we went out on strike it never gets to us.
Notice Di Blasio is not talking firing teachers for striking because if he really didn't want us to strike that is what he would threaten. He took a very conciliatory tone almost daring us. Stop saying that Mulgrew is being played. I honestly think it's us.
A strike is a good threat when it actually has an impact. We will be the only ones punished if we strike.
Anonymous said...
I am having panic attacks for the first time in my life. My heart beating out of my chest, nausea, stomach hurting...in the middle of the night. I am not sleeping. This is now happening three to four times a night and I am exhausted. I am remote and will not need to go into a school building, so it's not that. Any ideas on how to cope with this?
Saturday, August 22, 2020 2:16:00 PM
I'd strongly suggest you seek the help of a counselor to work through whatever is causing this for you. When you are actually in the middle of an attack, use the 5,4,3,2, 1 grounding method as well as others listed here: https://shermanconsulting.net/grounding-methods-anxiety-attacks/ This website is not me or anyone related to me. This page just has some quick ways you can ground yourself during an attack.
Tell all those around you that you trust. Don't go through it alone, I have fear and anxiety for the first time in my life, I am 50...The world will turn. I wish you the best.
@ 8/22/20, 2:16 P.M. — First, get the COVID-19 nasal swab test.
If it comes back negative, get checked for sleep apnea.
Other than that, eat a candy bar about a half hour before going to bed if you don’t have any problems with blood sugar levels, and make an appointment for a physical exam.
Xanax.
"Carranza seems to be implying that if this pushback keeps up, schools won't open at all and layoffs will be imminent."
I was told this exact thing by my chapter leader...If we actually go through with the strike, Carranza will layoff 9000 teachers, and would start with the non-tenured. Full stop.
Does anyone have accurate figures on the composition of our union?
It would be useful to know how many members are in tier 4 and how many are in tier 6, for example. If for no other reason it would improve dialogue if we could use reliable numbers provided by our union. Knowledge is power. Knowing is better than ignorance. How many teachers have a PE license? How many of these are currently classroom teachers in a HS?
People might support the job action if they had accurate, reliable numbers.
I could guess that people with more than 5 years in most licences have little to fear from the layoffs the mayor is threatening us with, but I can't back that up with figures.
That is one of my frustrations with Unity. We need access to information and numbers and they don't provide them.
You chose the commute.
I do want the schools to open Sept 10th. I think it is better to watch the half-assed plan crash and burn. Can you imagine the chaos on the first day?
TeachNY - It would be priceless, but it comes at the expense of safety of our members.
Something missed in the discussion is the level of sacrifice. As Shelley said, depending on where you are in your teaching career it is going to shape your feelings on a strike. This year will be my 20th but even with all those years if I got fired for striking (which definitely could happen under the Taylor law) I would be left with not much of a pension and waiting years to collect it. Contrast that with many of the chapter leaders who are supporting the strike idea and vilifying people like teach N.Y. who say they would have a hard time going out. If push comes to shove I would strike but please let’s not make it out like everyone has equal amounts to lose. Most of the chapter leaders I know have more than 20 years in and it they got fired would be in a much better financial situation then others who have less years. Not saying one side is right or one side is wrong I am just saying I understand both arguments. And while I would go on strike I would do so begrudgingly. Why doesn’t the union sue first like solidarity is doing?
And the delegate assembly, the only (kind of) democratic part of our union, didn’t even vote on the idea of a strike.
Schools will be closed within 2 weeks of opening: Mask, Face Shield and Disposable HAZMAT. Go to Work and Let Politicians hang themselves. Teachers are pawns in this fight: Gov would love to see strike and destroy UFT & Diblasio at the same time. I would not vote for a strike cause it is unnecessary. I would strike over: ATR POOL, Closing Schools, Danielson, Test Score tied to EVal. But COVID, No! COVID will take care of DiBlasio and Gov Cuomo - Teachers are being played. DOn't strike over COVID. Go to WORK AND let the kids video everything. Report every infraction of the protocol. We don't even have the data: How many kids are showing up? Voting to strike now is stupid. I will not strike.
Scab!
Scab. Now there is an intelligent response to a well thought out statement by 2:20. Cmon I know we are divided as a union but you can come up with a better response than “scab!” And if you can’t no one will be persuaded By you.
I chose the commute? Not true. When could we choose whatever schools we wanted?
In reality, this would not be a strike. It would be not going in due to safety concerns. Our contract is clear.
We could def get fired. People who say “that won’t happen” are not being realistic.
The DOE Plan is shit. Everyone knows it. For once, Teachers might win a fight. COVID was a life threat in Feb-March for sure. Now, it still is but not as much since infection rate is practically zero. Plus anyone with a half a brain will wear protective gear. Most Dr/Nurses did not catch COVID with proper PPE. Students won't follow the rule and DOE will not follow the rule. This is the weak point to exploit.
Questions for the PRO-STRIKERS:
If UFT tells you to show up in downtown Manhattan or downtown Brooklyn for a Picket line? Are you all gonna take the big bad NYC subway? OR LIRR, Metro North fare OR maybe you will pay $50 an hour for parking, can you afford that for days/weeks on end??? Oh yeah and bathroom on a Picket line: Porta potty - Not really very sanitary - might catch COVID that way, too. Maybe if you are nice, Mikey will set up a hand washing station for you somewhere.
Ur scared of COVID, Right? What about catching COVID on a picket line or the subway or a carpool?
Public Sentiment: You think the public is going to support you? Millions of People don't even have jobs right-now. People don't have food. U think they are gonna support people making 60,000 - 120,0000 a year w/ 3 months off a year, cause u think the buildings aren't safe when infection rate is less than 1%? Parents could not even be bothered to fill out a simple survey. Teachers will be public enemy #1 - NY POST Headlines: Kids fell behind because Teachers don't want to go into unsafe buildings. Lazy Teachers, NOW they want their Retro. Mom lost job cause Teachers went on Strike.
And what about the Penalties? Are you willing to pay 2 for 1? Are u will to get fired? Are going to leave this up to the courts? Some one mentioned 20 years of service is better off than newbies... true ... 20 yrs of service is about 2400 a month, health insurance at 55 at a monthly cost... who can live on that? I guess you can strikers!
People: Has Mulgrew ever done anything for you if there was not something in it for him? Ask yourself: What is in a strike for Mulgrew? for Cuomo? for Deblasio. Who is going to look good/ or bad? Maybe You are playing right into their privatizing hands. NYC's smartest really is NYC's dumbest!
If our contract is that clear then union should go to court not strike.
Many families are now potentially single income households, job market is very bad. Striking before school starts and students and parents can see what the doe has and or has not done is not a smart political move. The public will hate the teachers, the mayor will win. Teachers themselves if now a single income household will have to choose between putting food on table for families or risking getting fired.
This may not be the best idea at the moment, as bad as it may seem. Personally I would wait till the first day w kids, document everything if it’s all wrong, let the press see it, and take them to court. If courts take too long, the public will be more on side of teachers, then strike. But that’s me.
8:47, You are a coward. Spineless disgrace. All of your arguments are a the reason why this profession is doomed. People who are unable to have any compassion for their students and colleagues should have never become teachers at all. Your inability to think beyond your own narrow selfish needs is a horrible example for your students. I suppose the tens of thousands who died have no significance at all to you. The teachers and other school staff who were sacrificed by the morons who are in charge must be acceptable to you. I think you should volunteer to work at a rec center. Blow it out your ass.
Completely agree with the above statements. I am not willing to get fired. We have a union meeting this week with our district rep.
@11:05 PM - Where have you been? Teachers have been the scapegoat. For a variety of reasons educators are 'hated'. Instead of workers fighting for their rights and improved working conditions in all industries, teachers are the scapegoats. So, more educators have to die because we will be hated. Wow, what an argument.
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