Friday, September 04, 2020

MULGREW INSULTS MEMBERSHIP BY NOT GIVING THEM A VOTE ON HIS SAFETY DEAL

I have taken the time to read much of the social media criticisms and some of the support for Michael Mulgrew's deal with the City that nobody gets to see but only the 100% Unity Caucus endorsed Executive Board and the Unity dominated Delegate Assembly could vote on. The UFT membership at large was mobilized by Mulgrew to get strike ready for a safety strike that I was suspicious was not an actual threat but went along with. My wife (a longtime chapter leader and delegate) was adamant that the strike talk was fantasy. I noted that Mulgrew didn't look serious at that UFT presser in August when he talked strike. He was almost smiling when he said job action. Did our saber rattling get the Mayor to negotiate? Perhaps but Mayor Bill de Blasio was not worried about the UFT taking a strike vote and said so at his Monday, August 31 press briefing. 

Were all of us played by Mulgrew or did our strike threat really work to get the mayor to make serious concessions? The rank and file was being asked to risk Taylor Law fines for the first time since 1975 but will have no say on whether the UFT achieved its goal of a safe partial reopening of school buildings. Since teachers and other UFTers are the ones who have to work in these school buildings starting on Tuesday, don't you think all of you, not Mulgrew and his bought and paid for followers, should make that decision if his deal really makes schools safe? Let's look at what Mulgrew tells us is in the actual deal.

Read Mulgrew's August 25 email. The UFT never asked for full remote for the fall. There were three demands that the UFT had and the DOE according to Mulgrew is meeting them on paper at least with this notable exception: "Every child and adult should be tested for the virus before entering a school building." That was the toughest demand and it is not in the amended plan the DOE is sending to the State Education Department. The UFT did get in writing according to Mulgrew assurances on needed supplies, procedures to keep schools safe and a mandatory random testing program to start next month for 10-20% of students and staff.

Two days after the UFT Unity dominated Delegate Assembly voted 82% to 17 % in favor of Mulgrew's deal, Councilman Mark Treyger held hearings on school reopening.

This is from Gothamist:

New York City should expect to see an uptick in COVID-19 cases once public schools reopen for in-person classes later this month, an infectious disease expert and advisor to Mayor Bill de Blasio testified at a City Council hearing on Thursday.

Dr. Irwin Redlener was among the 140 speakers scheduled to testify at the day-long education committee hearing on the city's school reopening plan. In the absence of testimony from DOE officials, councilmembers heard from skeptics of de Blasio's school reopening plan, along with the school labor union leaders who convinced the mayor to delay reopening to allow more time to prepare.

Redlener warned councilmembers that students enrolled in schools for in-person learning have a greater chance of contracting the disease when inside a classroom.

“I’m pretty certain that we’re going to see a resurgence. There’s too many factors that we cannot control,” Redlener said, adding that the current reopening of colleges where cases have surfaced coupled with the upcoming Labor Day weekend, when New Yorkers typically travel outside the state, could contribute to an uptick. "It's going to spread and the schools are not as ready as they could or should be."

Redlener urged the city Department of Education to expand the criteria for Reasonable Accommodation Requests, the exemptions that allow teachers to instruct students from home. Several educators are taking the city to court in an attempt to keep teaching completely remote during the pandemic.

Mulgrew constantly cites medical experts. Did he consult with Dr. Redlener?

Back to Gothamist:

The hearing came two days after the city announced a delay in the reopening of public schools following weeks of pushback by the United Federation of Teachers union, which raised the possibility of a strike last week. UFT president Michael Mulgrew told committee members he signed off on the DOE's plan after receiving assurances that a randomized testing protocol will be set up for each school. Mulgrew also said he was reassured by de Blasio's commitment to double down on resources to neighborhoods that saw noticeable upticks. This includes additional rapid testing sites.

Where are these resources going to come from Mr. President?

Back in July Mulgrew stated, "We do not believe that New York City can pull it off if Congress does not pass the U.S. HEROES Act this summer."

Last time I looked, not only had the Senate not passed the Heroes Act but President Trump who controls FEMA is cutting funding for cleaning schools and mass transit.

From the NY Post:

A new FEMA policy change will scrub COVID-19 funds for disinfecting mass transit, schools and other public facilities, New York officials charged on Thursday.

“I have spoken with New York State and New York City and they are telling me that disinfection of the MTA, government buildings, and schools will now no longer be eligible expenses [for federal reimbursement], and that PPE for non-medical workers has been strictly limited,” Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.

The FEMA rule change, set for Sept. 15, eliminates federal support for the virus-safe operation of courthouses, public transit, public housing, schools and other public facilities, CNN reported on Wednesday — including funds for cleaning and protective equipment.

“The operation of schools and other public facilities, even with changes necessitated by the COVID-19 environment … are not immediate actions necessary to protect public health and safety,” the emergency management agency wrote in an Aug. 29 policy summer provided to The Post by Schumer’s office.

Where is the money coming for all of the deep cleaning and PPE supplies the UFT says are mandated to be provided in schools?

Where is the funding coming for all of the teachers that will be needed for blended learning in schools, and at home and for fully remote learning? There is a shortage of staff but layoffs are still on the table as the city is $9 billion in debt right now.

Mulgrew told the now famous UFTer Barbara at the Town Hall on Wednesday that there are no concessions in his current deal. He could have added that the city unions are trying to convince the state to give the city borrowing authority. There will more than likely be union concessions in exchange. Will the rank and file have a say in any of this or will it be another backroom deal? The chances of a member vote on any of this are basically less than zero. In addition, I am all for an early retirement incentive but are they going to agree to one after the start of the school year? That will just add to the chaos that looks like is imminent.

Mulgrew has hitched his wagon to the city's school reopening plan that has many more holes in it than a golf course. His gamble is that it will work and he can go to the state to complain if it does not without risking his precious dues. The problem is he is betting with the lives of the UFTers, students and all of the families who are connected to those going into the school buildings. 

Is it better than March when Mulgrew knew buildings were infected with COVID-19 and didn't urge UFTers to leave them? I think that decision should be made by the UFTers who have to take the risk, not their Delegates and Executive Board members who don't want to endanger their union perks or the UFT President who does not want to put the UFT's dues money in jeopardy. It's all of you that have to take the chance going to and from school. Most of you are the ones who will have to supervise breakfast and lunch in classrooms, social distancing and other mandates in the schools. The technology certainly exists for you to decide but you won't get the chance. However, if you stay in the UFT, you will get an opportunity in 2021 to vote out your bought and paid for Unity chapter leaders and delegates and in 2022 you will have the opportunity to send Mulgrew and Unity packing forever. Not easy of course, but maybe no longer next to impossible.

81 comments:

Anonymous said...

Now we are here. What to do on Tuesday? Especially for those with long commutes on public.

Anonymous said...

Parents Call BS On Mayor And UFT Deal – OPINION
Despite every student learning remotely all or some of the time, online learning has been ignored. Instead of working to improve language access or connectivity, the city devoted all its attention to the Rubik’s Cube of hybrid schedules, and the UFT narrowly focused on 3 safety points members never approved.
BKLYNER
SEPTEMBER 4, 2020 @12:02 PM

Pete Zucker said...

SUNY Oneonta. Shut down. Stony Brook and Oswego been 100% remote. Cornell has a cluster of 50 infections or so. Tompkins-Cortland Community College remote for this week. Ithaca College shut down before school started. Westchester Community College 100% remote.

What doesn’t Carranza understand?

Anonymous said...

So I have to go in on Tuesday. For virtual meetings. Why can't I do this from from my house if it isn't safe? They sold us out.

Anonymous said...

They don’t want us remote from home cause they feel we would slack and they don’t want that. Even though DOE salary is extremely lacking most wouldn’t slack, we are professionals who actually do care. They treat us like the students.

Anonymous said...

To stay home and do remote but not lose sick days?

Am I to tell them I visited one of those states on the list? Or say that i had contact with someone who is suspected of having covid? With no proof?

Tom said...

So first, Trump squawks, and demands and bellows that schools open up live, and then they say that “The operation of schools and other public facilities, even with changes necessitated by the COVID-19 environment … are not immediate actions necessary to protect public health and safety" . What??

Bronx ATR said...

Agreed. It’s expected by most from the goat Carranza and the prince of darkness deBlasio - not by loyalists from Mulgrew and the UFT. Many view it as yet another betrayal.
Teachers are finally starting to wake up.
https://nypost.com/2020/09/04/teachers-protest-outside-carranza-de-blasios-homes-in-nyc/?utm_campaign=iphone_nyp&utm_source=pasteboard_app

Anonymous said...

4:19: Show them a magnet you got at a gift shop.

Anonymous said...

With all due respect, james posts all these ways out...How can they work?

Anonymous said...

Self report everyday

NYC DOE Health Screening
ALL DOE employees, visitors, and families must complete a health screening before entering DOE facilities. This health screening must be completed on EACH DAY of arrival and results will reset at midnight of each day.
healthscreening.schools.nyc

Anonymous said...

This doesnt address sick bank...

School-based staff and students cannot report to school if they have:

Experienced any symptoms of COVID-19 (chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea), including a temperature of greater than 100.0°F, in the past 14 days;
Been knowingly in close or proximate contact in the past 14 days with anyone who has tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19 (fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea);
Tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 in the past 10 days; AND/OR
Traveled internationally or from a state with widespread community transmission of COVID-19 per the New York State Travel Advisory in the past 14 days.
Every morning, prior to entering the school, specific staff will perform random samplings of temperatures for both students and school-based staff using non-touch thermometers, in addition to the required at-home temperature checks. Additional guidance on random temperature screenings is forthcoming.

Anonymous said...

Call in sick or go in, all you tenured teachers are so dramatic
You make it like you need to retire or act as if it's any other school year
We are not being treated as professionals , so you can have lower standards for yourself . Go once every two weeks so you are not deemed to have effectively resigned
Yeah you'll get pay docked and an ineffective rating for ONE year
Better than getting Covid.

Personally I don't think you are doing irreparable permanent damage to your reputation and career. Adminstrations themselves said this was undoable . The CSA was more aggressive than the TDF

Why resign?
Have 160 absences and get an ineffective rating for one year.
Not so professional ; but better than dying or retiring/resigning.

Who are you afried off?????

Anonymous said...

The mayor ( sarcastic hat on) says it is safe.
What part of staff on site five days a week , don't you understand??????
We're not remote. ( At this time) sorry to be so direct but realize the situation.

They are making teachers who don't have an accommodation who are assigned an all remote program. come into the building to teach remote !!!!! Does the DOE Third world bulding wi fi even support this?

Just a CL said...

I agree.
From all my discussions it seems that the Mayor's plan to have PPE in place for all students in all schools was not going to happen by Sept. 10. Ask your CLs for what supplies are currently available. It is also clear that the "army of teachers" IS currently not available. Principals were submitting how many teachers their buildings will need today as they're trying to figure out the convoluted blended learning agreement from two weeks ago that no one voted on.

For just these two major reasons, the Mayor would not be able to open for students on Sept. 10. He needed a face-saving out from all his promises. I'm going to tinfoil-hat that this alleged strike & agreement was all well planned out; but even if it was not, our union's agreement gave the mayor a face-saving out from his failed opening plan while simultaneously giving UFT/Unity the appearance of strength.

It is clear to me that WE must be the watchdogs to make certain every safety protocol and item on the UFT checklist is being implemented. The UFT keeps celebrating their BRT and how powerful it will be. However, we've had the BRT in existence in our contract for years - does anyone know who is on the BRT and what roles they play in our schools? Furthermore, the BRT members are hand-picked by the Principal. Not everyone has a great Principal. Not everyone has an even better CL to protect them. We must educate ourselves on the agreed safety protocols and make certain they are in place.

Of course, it would help if we could see the agreement. I have seen many documents that supposedly combine to form the agreement. These documents do not look that different from the DOE info that was available before the agreement. So I really can't say I know what was agreed to, other than a face-saving delayed opening.

It is vitally important that we know what PPE will be available at the entrance to our buildings on Sept. 8. Ask your CL - he/she should have already discussed this with your administration. We should have on Sept. 8 at the entrance ready for distribution as we walk in:
a) masks for all staff (and enough of a supply for the first week)
b) face shields for all staff
c) hand sanitizer for all staff
d) Sanitizing wipes for all staff
e) gloves for all staff
We are not concerned yet with supplies for students.

No meeting should take place that violates social distancing. If on Sept. 8 you're told to be in a room that violates this rule; tell your CL; if he/she doesn't listen contact the UFT District Rep; there should also be a UFT hotline in place to call it in; inform the BRT and administration. Don't let it happen without a fight. Most classrooms can hold 9-12 people. Your CL should have been on the walkthrough in June and they should have the area for every room. Divide the area by 49 for the # of people allowed in that room. This is the DOE rule agreed to by the UFT. Violating the social distancing is a violation of our agreement and places you at risk.

During the day, take notes using the UFT checklist.
Every member of your school should be doing this - coordinate it!
By the end of your day there should be a master list of issues that must be resolved. Rooms that do not have windows or adequate HVAC should NOT be used.
Discuss and develop a list of questions. For example:
How many windows in the room open?
How far do the windows open? If they can only open a few inches discuss with your CL it may be safe for the custodian can remove the blocks to allow them to open further.

You may consult with your CL about signs on every room (there will be plenty of other signs, however I don't think these are in the agreement). The sign should clearly state the social-distancing occupancy of the room. Coordinate with your CL to make and post these signs yourselves if this is not part of the agreement.

We are the union.

waitingforsupport said...

@5:32 ha ha ha ha

Anonymous said...


They are making teachers who don't have a reasonable accommodation who are assigned an all remote program. come into the building five full days a week to teach remote !!!!! Do he DOE Third world buildings wi fi even support this?

Do the.zoom teachers in the building need to wear masks?

So they are on Zoom with a mask!
Very enriching learning experience ( sarcastic)

How can the school wi fi handle hundreds of students logging in from home to zoom that this connect to school wi fi ??

waitingforsupport said...

if anyone has their mask on their chin or below the nose...alert the BRT, CL, snap a pic send it the media. Look out for yourself because no one will love you more than you love yourself. Stay safe.

Anonymous said...

Since someone brought it up...I was in one of those states on the list. What do I do now? I obviously tell my principal I'm not permitted to enter the building for 2 weeks and i will work remotely. And he will know not to take the days out of my bank?

Anonymous said...

If I save 150 days you think i want to destroy the whole bank or not get paid for the whole year?

Anonymous said...

b) face shields for all staff

e) gloves for all staff

What you talking about Willis????

Are we even suppose to be , in a perfect execution, receive face shields?--- First I am hearing.

They have delivered child sized marks to High schools and delivered adult masks to elementary schools.

THIS IS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

Don't hold your breath for your safety , or maybe actually do hold your breath.

Whose taking bets on adult bathrooms with soap and toilet lids -- what about student bath rooms --- what's the morning line?

What about other luxuries like paper towels, hot water,

The last time I sat a Tolite Bowl with a lid was NEVER years ago, ( Does the custodian sell them on the black market to help with the upkeep of hid yacht?

Anonymous said...

You are like Jack Benny. The mugger puts the gun in his gut and says, "Your money or your life?" Benny answers, "Wait a minute, I'm thinking, I'm thinking."

The only difference for you is it's your sick bank or your life?

1,000 kids in a school. A 1% infection rate means 10 infected people. Good luck.

Anonymous said...

"If I save 150 days you think i want to destroy the whole bank or not get paid for the whole year?"


Uh no you get 10 self treated days . after that you need medical certification ( Doctors note ) to get Paid or else it's an "unauthorized Absent" and your pay is docked.

so let me get this straight ----
you have 150 days in your CAR ,
so obviously you are a long time employeee with tenure,

You have lots of options.

BUT
you don't want to go into work
OR
Burn your days ( an impression that you were mistaken that you even had this option).

Or get paid 80 % less while keeping your job, health insurance etc,

one year rated ineffective won't get you fired.

Would you like them to get mail you the check and stay home and do nothing for the money???

I'm not sympathetic to you. what about the young untenured teacher who will be discontinued with horrible attendance.

You'll be OK and in a year your professional reputation will be rehabilitation.

You are a typical lifer. complain, fearful of authority, afraid to look after yourself.


They may go remote only after a few months , THEN AGAIN MAYBE NOY
for Now that's not an option, if you are truly worried about your health (and not just lazy) go in to work twice a month.
They won't commence a 3220 arbitration against your for one year.
You'll get an ineffective rating for one year . Big deal

Anonymous said...

the games are starting...

NYC will NOT post inspection reports on all schools today as promised. A spokeswoman for
@nycmayor says the city will “share a comprehensive report next week.”

Anonymous said...

"As the city orders teachers back to work at their schools, hundreds of #NYCDOE staffers who work on policy and support have been allowed to keep working from home."

Eric said...

Same as above...I was in one of those states on the list. What do I do now? I obviously tell my principal I'm not permitted to enter the building for 2 weeks and i will work remotely. And he will know not to take the days out of my bank?

Shelley said...

From discussions it seems ... from comments on social media it seems ... it is apparent that ...

Only one thing is for certain and that is that nobody here knows anything for sure. The speculation, the conjecture, the tin foil hat is all we get. Why? People close to MM in Unity keep things under wraps. That the agreement is not voted on is shocking enough, but that nobody, nobody has seen it is amazing. We all want our eyes on it but nobody can get hold of it. Amazing in these days of cell phones, with cameras and email and tape recorders built into them that we don't have it, or part of it.

And the speculation and conjecture here, the guessing and predicting has been very bad.

An echo chamber has set in.

I guess we will just have to wait and see it.

And, if I may be allowed one more tin foiled hat prediction, I suspect we never will.

Anonymous said...

Unconfirmed - but likely true.
If this is NOT correct please help me clear up the mistake.

It appears DoE has denied every request for accommodation by a school nurse - even those with serious risk factors (eg. immunocompromised) and multiple risk factors.

One big obstacle de Blasio faced was not enough nurses. We were 400 nurses short earlier in the summer. They promised to hire them. Mulgrew said schools would not open without them. But I do not think any have been hired. This will be an issue Tuesday. It will be a far larger issue September 21. The DoE is sending teachers into unsafe schools on Tuesday, hoping there is not a big backlash. But the day the kids come back?

In any case, they are short nurses. And they had 80 - 100 current nurses asking for accommodations. And they considered what the right thing to do was. And they considered what they would need to do to support de Blasio's political folly. And given the choice, to act morally or act politically, they chose politics.

That does not explain why they waited until the Friday before school to deny the eighty nurses. You might think cruelty, but I'm inclined to believe they are more practical than cruel, and that waiting so late meant that nurses had no time to appeal. Or to sue.

Anonymous said...

"According to the UFT/city agreement, the city is supposed to meet the 55 point checklist, in order to safely reopen schools. Since no one has shown any evidence of this, and it is the end of the final business day before school starts, in the interest of the health and safety of the school community I am advising all teachers to not attend in-person professional development or instruction until the report is delivered. If the report is delivered over the weekend, I ask that staff still be allowed to report remotely on Tuesday to accommodate any changes they’ve had to make as a result. I will be in contact with my district representative and the UFT for further clarification on the reports.”

“As per my understanding, teachers should not report to the building until we are cleared to do so. To that end I advise that all teachers tune into the back to school Pd, remotely (not in the school building), until we receive clearance that the building is safe to enter. “

Anonymous said...

So... some of my colleagues have been going into the building this week (even though they were advised not to 📷). Although the building appears very clean, freshly painted and new (and expensive) welcome signs, the classrooms are not. Mouse droppings and roaches everywhere and garbage cans still have garbage in them from March! And the vents have not been cleaned... I know some of you will say, "It doesn't look that dirty." But the point is they all should have been cleaned by now!
How are people supposed to report to the school buildings on Tuesday if we aren't even sure if they are safe??? What if they are not? Then what???

Anonymous said...

To me the worst thing about Mulgrew’s concession agreement (and all his negotiations are concessions) is that it is basically bending teachers over once again, just because he was asked nicely. Mulgrew’s not getting in the ass, but he doesn’t mind agreeing to it for everyone else. It seems like he’s allowing it to postpone or mitigate upcoming layoffs, that are going to come anyway. Mulgrew is becoming a very hated man. Did anyone know 7% dropped out last June? It will be triple that in next June. Many of us don’t want to do it, but the frustration is so great combined with the anger that I just don’t give a fuck anymore. I don’t wanna pay to get shafted and it has nothing to do with money. It’s the lack of respect. The entire UFT is an insult. Mulgrew presented this back to school agreement like it was the finest chocolate cake ever made in all of New York. What it is, is an obscene cake of bullshit, that will kill anyone who takes a bite. Mulgrew is the baker and the icing reads, CONGRATULATIONS! ANOTHER UFT VICTORY!! NO STRIKE!!!

Anonymous said...

I agree with 9:55. I dont know if that 7% is true. Look at this, most schools have none of the safety issues rectified, yet nobody has said we shouldnt go in.

Anonymous said...

Port Washington Teachers Walk Out Over Tech, Training, Safety
Teachers staged a walkout Friday afternoon at Paul D. Schreiber High School days before the start of school.

Anonymous said...

Where does it say if you have close contact with someone outside of school and you must be out for 10-14 days the days dont come out of your bank?

James Eterno said...

Please read the last posting when the DOE memo. It explains your rights and responsibilities. Email us if there are questions.

Anonymous said...

Also. now that the UFT is in bed with the DOE, we really can’t trust ANY of the UFT or DOE building safety reports, which, by the way, were supposed to be given to chapter leaders on Thursday...then bumped to Friday/Saturday...then Sunday...and now we are hearing some schools won’t be getting their reports until Tuesday! Yet all staff without medical accommodations are still expected to show up to their unsafe schools on Tuesday. Never mind the “comprehensive” reports that will be revealed sometime next week — vague enough for you? This was announced on Friday night on purpose so it won’t get too much press and definitely means the reports hold damning evidence that these buildings are still unsafe. You can bet that we’ll have a repeat of March, when schools were kept open way longer than they should have been with nary a peep from Mulgrew — and look at the lives that were lost. Count on it: UFT-DOE will hide Covid case numbers and statistics for as long as they can in order to show the country and the world that NYC was the only place that opened up their school system — but at what cost? Never mind the fantasy plans for instructions that necessitate 2-3 times as many teachers as we have. Disgraceful across the board.

Anonymous said...

My principal said that all school staff must be tested for CoVid-19 and receive a negative result. If we do not, we cannot come into the school on Tuesday and we will be placed on leave.

Anonymous said...

One aspect that is not much talked about, but will be, is the experience of the students at school. Very isolating for students. Young kids get frustrated because the social distancing/masks hurts their ability to communicate and be understood. I think we may go remote when parents are all saying how sad their kids feel about going to school. Live teaching from home might become viewed as the best option.

Anonymous said...

"SUNY may implement biweekly testing to stem campus COVID-19 outbreaks"

https://nypost.com/2020/09/04/suny-implements-biweekly-testing-to-stem-campus-covid-19-outbreaks/

Anonymous said...

The 50-pt checklist
@UFT
agreed to. And now each of 1,800 schools piecemeal will have to fight based on this checklist why their school buildings should stay closed. You think that's gonna get done over a long holiday weekend? And some of us staff will go in Tuesday anyway...

Anonymous said...

Caganza is a drone, a mouthpiece. De Bozo is the real problem here. I can't understand what he's got to gain by doing this. He will never win a race in NYC again.

Anonymous said...

65 NY DISTRICTS START REMOTE: Lacking $, Central Valley starts remote 7-12 https://cvalleycsd.org/page/2020-school-reopening-plan

NYC delays till 9/21 for safety training + inspections

Malone CSD delays till 9/21 citing @NYGovCuomo who said it is “risky + problematic to open schools” http://malonecsd.org/uploads/1/9/9/2/19923849/malone_csd_to_delay_in-person_instruction_until_september_21__1_.pdf

Why are less populous school districts in my state opting for remote learning, but NYC, the home of one of the worst COVID death tolls, is requiring in-person learning in three weeks?

Anonymous said...

Sorry. I have no confidence in that agreement. Watch how DoE wiggles its way out of it with whiny excuses... [I hope I am proven wrong.]

Anonymous said...

What happened Michael Mulgrew? Make good on your promise to us. School buildings open on Tuesday morning. Speak now and don’t disgracing yourself in front of your members and as far as our voices will carry.

Mulgrew Wednesday: you won’t go until buildings until they are safe. We’ll sue if a building is unsafe. UFT Friday: crickets.

Anonymous said...

It's Saturday and I STILL haven't seen our school building inspection report. It's a holiday weekend and there's ZERO BUSINESS DAYS TIL WE HAVE TO REPORT TO WORK. Shame on you
@UFT

@UFTUnity

@NYCMayor
for agreeing to this unsafe
@NYCSchools
plan: you WILL get people sick. Shame.

Anonymous said...

Uft betrayal of its members on the brink of a new school year as we head into a weekend honoring labor in America will be long remembered. This is a sad day for New York City, for the labor union movement & for America.

Anonymous said...

��������������������������

You are dead on the money!

Anonymous said...

And I thought I was the most cynical...

Anonymous said...

������������ Well-said!������������

Anonymous said...

9:55 PM - I agree with you. Is there any way that we can sue Mulgrew? We need a union. Can we have our dues go to another caucus?

Anonymous said...

Your principal is wrong. Staff will be selected for random testing beginning Oct. 1 . If a staff refuses the random test at that point they will then be placed on unpaid leave. You do not have to get tested to enter on Tuesday.

Anonymous said...

What the fuck? Chapter leader told me the report states that the only thing needed by Sept 8th is just masks, and teachers can report. Everything else needs to be completed by Sept 21st. My building still doesn’t have MERV13 filters, but we are told by
@UFT
and the superintendent we must go in.

Bronx ATR said...

DeB scrounges for every hint of publicity - no matter how big or small. He’ll create as much as he can. He’s a lot like Cuomo that way and for the same reason. DeB, like Cuomo, believes he’ll be president one day. That’s when we’ll really need to leave the country.

Anonymous said...

That’s bullshit, it should be made safe now! We all know that by the 21st. nothing will be improved. At that point a stand needs to made with or without Mulgrew and the UFT.

Anonymous said...

Some teachers want to protest in front of Mulgrew’s home, like they did in front of Carranza and DeBlasio’s. I would have gone and would love to protest in front of Mulgrew’s. Let us know! Post his address. If James isn’t comfortable with that, put Mulgrew’s address on Peter’s blog, he has no monitoring. Pete hates Mulgrew! Right Pete?

Shelley said...

Cuomo has stacked the deck against us. We are weak unions in NY State and they only way to change that, since we will never strike, and we will never have the support of the public, is lawyer-up.

Jim Malatras, president of SUNY Empire State College and longtime advisor to Governor Andrew Cuomo, will take up the chancellorship Aug. 31. His appointment prompted the SUNY Faculty Senate to vote no confidence in the system's board.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/08/24/suny-board-appoints-cuomo-insider-prompting-no-confidence-vote-faculty-senate

Anonymous said...

I just got my school report. Most things were written as unsure. Merv 13 filters not there yet. No signage. No nurse. Are we supposed to go in? Mulgrew says so.

Anonymous said...

Never trust a skinny chef or a childless administrator.

waitingforsupport said...

Mercy. Alot of hemming and hawing, huffing puffing and pontificating. Just look out for yourself. You are going in or not. Teachers are the new students.

waitingforsupport said...

@9:31 pm
So did anyone notify the media?

waitingforsupport said...

@11:03

That's horrible.

Gregger said...

FYI, finally posted (with no fanfare!)

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/about-us/news/2020-2021-school-year-calendar

Anonymous said...

Call the UFT and demand schools go fully remote, tel:212-331-6311. I hope to see Mulgrew at the Labor Day festivities in Brooklyn. Boxes of tomatoes are very inexpensive right now and sold along the parade route, they make a wonderful gift for the union leaders who have everything!

Anonymous said...

Interesting article. Many parents want fully remote, like all big cities. Writer faults the three stooges of education - DeB, Carranza and Mulgrew.

https://nypost.com/2020/09/05/de-blasio-doe-and-teachers-union-are-failing-nyc-school-kids/?utm_campaign=iphone_nyp&utm_source=pasteboard_app

Anonymous said...

they fucked us again. Election day is now a fully remote instructional day.

Anonymous said...

The plan for blended learning is a half-baked farce, cooked up by back-room bureaucrats who've probably never stepped foot in a classroom. It's a sure recipe for teacher burnout and educational neglect. And the uft agrees to it. Keep paying dues.

Anonymous said...

I despise PD BS days. I would rather it be a remote teaching day.

Anonymous said...

Thanks anonymous @10:04.

The teachers in my school are running around this weekend to find a place to be tested because my principal told them they would be placed on leave on Tuesday if they did not have, on hand, negative CoVid test results.

Our CL and borough rep are friendly with the principal, so no help there.

Anonymous said...

Three dead, 147 infected after COVID-19 super-spreader wedding in Maine

And how many are going to be together on Tuesday? The week after? When students report? in the subway?

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know the protocols that need to be in place for Tuesday? We have heard nothing from our principal and I’m scared.

Anonymous said...

And how are we ever supposed to eat in the building? Go 10 hours without food?

Tom said...

@1:26 - the union was threatening to strike over lack of testing so I wonder how they would argue against it now, but I thought the testing was optional until they begin the random testing? My Principal hasn't asked for it but I already got my results back.

Anonymous said...

Serious question. Happy paying dues after another abandonment?

VoteOutMulgrew&Unity&UselessChapterLeaders said...

For the sake of transparency since many chapter members weren’t given their right to vote by Chapter Leaders—Is there a place where we can go to find how each chapter leader and delegate voted?

Anonymous said...

Hello. My name is Marissa Garcia and I am the Chapter Leader for New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn, and I am requesting the assistance of every UFT member on this page to demand transparency from our union regarding our safety.

(Full disclosure, I’m a member of the unity caucus, but I do NOT work for the union. I work for my members.)

We were told from the beginning to listen to science and not politics. Our union had a stance until a week ago that certain scientific aspects were necessary if we were to reopen safely. Then Monday, it changed, allegedly because the scientific experts said so.

I sent emails to two different people requesting to see IN WRITING that the scientific medical advice from Northwell Health and Harvard had changed, from those two institutions. I got nothing.

I then spoke to someone at the UFT who told me my request was one person’s request out of hundreds of thousands of members who have other concerns.

So, let’s make it hundreds of thousands of members.

Please call and email the union (not your CLs!!) to give us written proof that their change in demands was not political negotiation, but something scientifically valid and that we will, indeed, be as safe as scientifically possible.

Ugh, I’m gonna so get in trouble for this

James Eterno said...

Hi Marissa,

I certainly admire your courage in taking on this cause from inside. I guess you didn't like the food at the last NYSUT Representative Assembly. Seriously, your points are well taken. Email us at ICEUFT@gmail.com if you need help.

James

James Eterno said...

VOTE OUT MULGREW,

I don't know how you can trace each CL or Delegate's vote.

Just a CL said...

Marissa Garcia - thank you. I am also a CL, I've had plenty of scrapes with our union and admin, but to be honest I'm not ready yet to disclose my name on this forum.

However, I will be discussing this with my members at our upcoming meeting - so thank you very much for the idea.

-VoteOutMulgrew-
Now that would be great if it was made public on the UFT website and we had full transparency.

Since we don't: at your next Chapter Meeting your members should ask them directly.
Are they registered with Unity?
Did they sign the Unity Loyalty Pledge?
How did they vote & why?

You have the right to know!

To be fair however, this vote at the Delegate Assembly was sprung on the Delegates/CLs. They did not receive any advance warning, no written MoA, and no time to discuss with their Chapters. A number of individuals spoke against the vote taking place due to these concerns. They each received a "Thank you" from Mulgrew, and then next caller. 17% of us at the DA voted against it. My reason was solely due to not being able to discuss a written MoA with my chapter members first. I don't write blank checks so I will always vote against them - even if I would agreed with whatever secret agreement we were being asked to vote on. Not in writing, not getting my vote.

Anonymous said...

The Exec board has a few independent voices. They are only nominally Unity members. The DA is not 100@ unity, far from it. So, your call for direct democracy is off the mark. Schools elect representatives, and the representatives vote. Don't tell us that schools vote only UNITY reps. And the vote was overwhelmingly positive. Doesn't it ever occur to you that your blog represents a very narrow slice of the membership?

James Eterno said...

3 nominally independent. Two always vote wit Unity as far as I know. DA dominated by Unity. DRs watch how people vote. Don't tell me otherwise.

Even if your premise was accurate that Unity doesn't dominate DA, every agreement is sold at the DA as the greatest thing since sliced bread by the President. Then, there are five minutes of debate that usually is mostly Unity. Before I knew how the system operated, I didn't know how bogus it was. I had to learn it.

A membership vote removes a great deal of doubt.

Quinn Zannoni said...

Marissa Garcia, thanks for saying exactly that about the supposed scientific advisors. The UFT made that demand for universal testing in the beginning of August. They waited the entire month, until the morning of a potential strike vote, to ask for a medical opinion? Really hard to swallow that story. Bad screen writing, bad acting, but we got played.