Wednesday, August 12, 2020

SYRACUSE TEACHERS UNION VOTES TO GO ALL REMOTE

Thanks to a reader who sent me this story From cnycentral.com:

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The union representing teachers in the Syracuse City School District on Wednesday voted in a landslide majority for a fully remote start to the 2020-2021 school year.

The school district previously proposed a hybrid learning model, like many other school districts across Central New York. The Syracuse Teachers Association took issue with bringing students back to school, citing health risks and childcare dilemmas for teachers and parents.

"If I have 500 or 600 people who are impacted through health or childcare needs, you start looking at what’s the best way to do this," said union president Bill Scott. "And to me the best way to do it is the virtual learning. Teachers can now use up to 60 days of childcare coverage, creating potential staffing issues.”

Out of 92 voters, 88 voted in favor of the remote-only schedule. It would keep students at home until the end of the first marking period.

The union will now take their proposal to the school board, which will discuss the matter on Wednesday evening.

Democracy, what a concept? I must have missed the UFT Delegate Assembly and Executive Board vote on going remote for the fall. We need a real union, not to drop ours.

34 comments:

De Blasio Must Go! said...

How about we drop our current union and create a new one?

Anonymous said...

The only way I will risk my life and return to work on 9/10 is if Mulgrew resigns. That and that alone would make it worthwhile. If Mulgrew doesn’t resign, I will not return to work. As bad as the virus is, Mulgrew is worse. Regardless, of what the next emergency is, it will be less dangerous than having a man who is oblivious to our dignity and respect as people and as workers. He allowed to go in for a less than worthless three day training to ensure the automatic dues payment. He lost his position as our Union leader at that very moment. I will no longer follow him, listen to him or give him even the slightest respect as UFT president. I don’t say this lightly. We all need to understand the true betrayal of his silent surrender on our behalf on 3/17, 3/18 and 3/19.

Anonymous said...

And here’s the transcript of Donald Trump’s August 12th “Kids First” Roundtable:

www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/donald-trump-kids-first-roundtable-transcript-august-12-reopening-schools/amp

Anonymous said...

What's the difference in having the UFT and having no union at all?

Anonymous said...

Interim Commissioner of Education Shannon Tahoe is resigning today:

www.news10.com/news/ny-capitol-news/shannon-tahoe-reflects-on-time-serving-as-nyseds-interim-commissioner

Anonymous said...

Dr. Betty A. Rosa is leaving her position as a member of the Board of Regents to become the new Interim Commissioner of Education starting tomorrow:

www.mytwintiers.com/news-cat/top-stories/interim-commissioner-of-education-in-new-york-state-selected-2

jr said...

If mayor is so sure all teachers wants tro return to buildings, why not vote or survey? Or make it optional.

Anonymous said...

I’m just curious to know how the DOE plans to address all the inequalities between remote teachers and in person teachers? How will there be accountability for remote teaching and will they be working the same hours as us having to go in and be ON the whole time? Also, without teachers choice we will now have to decorate our own rooms, get supplies and provide for our students, but remote teachers will not have this expense. These are just a few examples, but there are an abundance of other issues I can foresee between in person and remote teaching. Open to discussion about this! Good luck to everyone in any capacity.

Anonymous said...

On NY1 Pat Kiernan asked Chancellor Caranza what his opinion is of teachers' and paras' concerns of supervising unmasked children at mealtime.

Ricky said: "Teachers teach because they want to be with kids..."

Meaning, teacher will be martyrs for the sake of kids.

Today is a good day to donate to the UFT Solidarity Legal Aid Fund.

Anonymous said...

I am the UFT delegate for my school and am getting ZERO communication from the UFT. I have been signed up for every app/news/portal and crickets except from an occasional email that everyone get from Mulgrew. I keep hearing about town halls day of when it’s too late or after they have happened. I am beyond annoyed. Is anyone else experiencing this? Also can someone post/share town hall info before they happen or post the call in info? Thanks!

Anonymous said...

This is so unfair and so dangerous. Everyone writing on FB how they got their approval, no going in until 2021, and I am stuck travel and being in the building for 7 hours daily?

Anonymous said...

UFT TOWNHALL today 3 30
Get the facts not rumors or opinions

Anonymous said...

10:10
Yes terribly unfair, would you like to have diabetes, cancer, etc...Then we can be fair , square and even. Think before you type next time please.

Anonymous said...

District 13 principals join District 15 principals and the CSA in calling for a delay

Anonymous said...

TOWNHALL TODAY 3 30

Anonymous said...

This is who the uft loses to in negotiations. This is who the uft cant stand up to.

@NYCMayor is a moron. Everybody knows this. His polling show it.

He's not interested in governing, he's not interested in the intricacies of making sure the system is safe to reopen.

He is interested only in being able to say, "We reopened when no other big city did."

Anonymous said...

Get the facts today at 330pm, as mulgrew backs down again.

Anonymous said...

Whats the difference between diblasio, carranza mulgrew and corona?? At least i know how to protect myself from corona.

Anonymous said...

Some of you need to educate yourselves about the UNION. You do not need to "drop the current union". You simply need to vote out the party in power. Then you have another comment saying "what is the difference in having the UFT and no union at all?" There is complaining about the party in power, which is a valid complaint, and then there is stupidity like that reflected above.

Anonymous said...

TOWNHALL TODAY 3 30
Learn the facts

Anonymous said...

Some of you need to educate yourselves about the UNION. You do not need to "drop the current union". You simply need to vote out the party in power. Then you have another comment saying "what is the difference in having the UFT and no union at all?" There is complaining about the party in power, which is a valid complaint, and then there is stupidity like that reflected above.

Anonymous said...

I don't understand why everyone is putting the blame on Mulgrew. When you are a union leader, you have to make concessions...it's akin to being a political figure. If he comes across aggressive, we would look very bad. Already, people are complaining about teacher unions. Can you imagine if he drew a line in the sand in July? At least we look like we are trying to be conciliatory. I think he's playing this political game well and will ultimately give it his all in the remaining weeks. Don't worry, we aren't going in September. Look at the front page of the newspapers in the past week, things are trending towards keeping buildings closed.

Anonymous said...

Mulgrew: "The UFT has said repeatedly that we cannot re-open schools unless they are safe for students and staff." 1/3
UFT
@UFT

"The principals union — whose members will be responsible for enforcing coronavirus safety protocols in the schools — now believes that school buildings will not be ready to open in September." 2/3
UFT
@UFT
"We need both safety and sanity in this crisis.

"Will any parents be willing to put their children in a school whose principal believes the building is not ready to open because it is not safe?

Bronx ATR said...

10:10, Get your will made out, seriously. (As bad as the DOE/UFT is, I never thought it could get this surreal - You’re money or your life - the DOE/UFT reality hit show.) My buddy did his last week. I don’t think he’s getting an accommodation and is looking for a lawyer. All of you who get turned down should join together - heck everyone needs to join together even if you get one, it isn’t right that they pick and choose.

See this - https://nypost.com/2020/08/12/nyc-schools-tested-positive-for-lead-paint-nearly-50k-times-in-5-years/?utm_campaign=iphone_nyp&utm_source=pasteboard_app

That’s PROOF positive that NYC can not guarantee a safe environment for students or staff. Use it at Mulgrew’s lecture today - if anyone can get a question in edgewise that isn’t pre-edited. Good luck to all.

jr said...

If Mulgrew does not say today that we don't have to go in or we will have the option to go in or stay home, we must at that point start emailing media outlets, mulgrew, de blasio and carranza and tell them that we aren't. It will be September 8 soon and it will become very chaotic very quickly. This is not something to play with.

Anonymous said...

It's piecemeal announcements like this, by the way, that are frustrating some of the principals who are calling for a delay. They're trying to deal with wildly complicated logistics and protocols and say they don't have all the info, staff and supplies they need to make this work
CSA Retweeted
Jillian Jorgensen
@Jill_Jorgensen
The mayor keeps citing comments a Queens principal made standing beside him yesterday--saying she was the captain of her ship. But when asked about dozens of principals in Brooklyn--also ship captains!--signing their own letters seeking delay, he lumps them in with the unions.
10:49 AM · Aug 13, 2020·Twitter Web App
3
Retweets and comments
11
Likes
Jillian Jorgensen
@Jill_Jorgensen
·
39m
Replying to
@Jill_Jorgensen
I didn't hear an answer from
@NYCMayor
to my question fo HOW MANY nurses he intends to hire with Health + Hospitals help -- did I miss it?
Jillian Jorgensen
@Jill_Jorgensen
·
38m
This is the least of the questions I have here BUT... part of the reason there's a school nurse shortage is because there's a weird stratified system for them already -- some are hired by DOE and some by DOH. DOE nurses get better pay. Where will these new nurses land?
Jillian Jorgensen
@Jill_Jorgensen
·
35m
Oh, also, the mayor keeps saying we have a whole month, but it's actually a little less. First day of school is set for Sept. 10th, and I believe teachers report Sept. 8th.
Jillian Jorgensen
@Jill_Jorgensen
·
29m
"As a principal, the weight I felt for my communities was vast,"
@DOEChancellor
says, sounding a bit more empathetic / understand than
@NYCMayor
who keeps writing off the requests for delay as coming from the unions.

Anonymous said...

@9:42. Teachers were lied to and sent to infectious buildings. Prior to that we were treated like shit in other ways. Why on gods green earth would any teacher buy anything for their room. This has always been part of the problem. No matter how badly some people are treated they will make nice. I stopped buying supplies 15 years ago. My principal will make sure I have masks and sanitizer because she knows I'll bullhorn all over the goddamn city if she doesn't. Can't say the same for some of the cowards I work with. Oh well maybe my principal will give me their supplies too. Wake up people.....if you act like a sheep you're sure to get slaughtered.

nerd said...

There’s one today

Anonymous said...

"This is so unfair and so dangerous. Everyone writing on FB how they got their approval, no going in until 2021, and I am stuck travel and being in the building for 7 hours daily"
wrote 10;10AM
WHAT IS FB


WHAT IS FB

WRITING ON FB?????
my understanding is that no teachers heard one way or the other.
I would be very interested in reading these posts

Anonymous said...

Facebook, yes, many approved.

Anonymous said...

We also have the water fountain issue. Very few have the new technology which you put your bottle under it. Most water fountain are the old fashioned kinds. Now kids won't have access to water.

waitingforsupport said...

@11:39 am... i bought stuff for my students because I didn't want to penalize them (call me a sucker) however I agree with your other points. I sure hope this is the catalyst for change: Atica Atica (non violent of course).

Anonymous said...

Ya know Waiting.... I've bought clothes for students. I once even paid for a week of camp for a student under special circumstances but what I will never do is buy classroom decor and supplies. That's NYC's job. I get your compassion..... cheers.

waitingforsupport said...

Cheers. I love your courage. Keep up the good fight. Sounds like you don't have a problem showing people how you demand to be treated. Wishing you and your family safety!