MULGREW EMAIL ON NEW 3 FEET SOCIAL DISTANCE GUIDELINES: "THIS IS THE UNFAIR WORLD WE ARE ALL LIVING AND WORKING IN"

This is from Michael Mulgrew's latest email (see below) on the new 3 feet between students social distancing guidelines:

After all that we have been through since the start of this pandemic, it was our hope that there would be no further changes. But this is the unfair world we are all living and working in. We know that many times those in charge make decisions without realizing that we are the ones who have to do the hard work of implementing these changes.

Michael Mulgrew never ceases to amaze me on how little he understands that the union president's job is to make sure with rank and file backing that UFTers work in a fair world. He is supposed to stand up to the government when "those in charge make decisions without realizing that we are the ones who have to do the hard work of implementing these changes." 

If we had a union leadership and unified membership that was willing to defy the corporate Democrats and Republicans, we could do more than just "hope there would be no further changes."  

At least Mulgrew isn't out there claiming this is another great UFT victory. I suppose that is a small step forward. 

For those wondering why we are concerned since adults are eligible to be vaccinated, this NY Times piece on the rise in spread of COVID-19 variants may help in understanding. In addition, CIDRAP at the University of Minnesota has a good article on the 3 foot policy.

Michael T. Osterholm, PhD, MPH, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, publisher of CIDRAP News, is worried B117 will lead to a different level of transmission than the country has seen before.

"We're already seeing substantial transmission," said Osterholm, who had supported the opening of K-8 schools given the dynamics of the wild type virus. Osterholm said the CDC recommendations were based on data done when only the original, wild-type virus was circulating, not B117.

"What little science supports 3 versus 6 feet goes out the window here. Is 6 feet even safe?" he said.

Mulgrew's email:

Dear _______,

There have been many conversations over the last few weeks about the CDC’s recent recommendation to reduce social distancing between students to three feet in classrooms. Now, in the middle of these discussions, an upstate judge has ordered the state Department of Health to issue guidance on the new rules. Local school districts, including New York City, must plan how to implement the new guidelines by working together with all stakeholders.

Your safety remains the top priority, along with the safety of your families, your students, and their families.

After all that we have been through since the start of this pandemic, it was our hope that there would be no further changes. But this is the unfair world we are all living and working in. We know that many times those in charge make decisions without realizing that we are the ones who have to do the hard work of implementing these changes.

Under the new state guidelines, school staff must still maintain six feet from other adults and from students. The guidance also says students must maintain six feet apart in any public area, such as gyms, hallways and lunchrooms. Students and teachers must be in distinct cohorts throughout the day.

With the wide availability of vaccines and our other safety protocols still in place, we are in a good position. But we need to remain vigilant. In the coming days, we will be taking all steps to make sure that any school that moves to the three-foot guidance can do so safely.

The immediate impact of this change will be limited to predominantly elementary schools where space limitations mean some students now attend fewer than five days a week.

As we near the final stretch of this difficult school year, your patience and perseverance are appreciated. We will be in touch with more information as soon as it’s available.

Sincerely,

Michael Mulgrew

UFT President