This is from High School Representative Nick Bacon's Minutes of President Michael Mulgrew's report from Monday's Executive Board meeting:
Contract: Believe bargaining will move forward. One big thing with CAT teams was supporting other unions. Hope is that pattern will be set in a couple weeks by DC37 or PBA. Only benefits us if they get a good contract. Mayor can say all he wants that we’re falling off a cliff, but it’s not true. We have record reserves and surpluses.
DOE – a lot of people coming and going. Presented demands from negotiating committee last Wednesday. Our demands are good. We want to be paid, secure our healthcare premium-free. But, we also just want to do our job – can you just do us a little help.
If they follow the model of the last two rounds of bargaining for City employees, healthcare savings will be part of the patttern as wage increases will be paid for in part by healthcare savings so watch closely what is going on with DC 37. If the PBA settles, they are two contracts behind so expect something that is a very long-term deal. Buried in Nick's minutes is an action we will be taking this Thursday in the contract battle campaign:
Amy Arundel: Thursday, CAT teams should wear green and black in solidarity with DC37 who is organizing. Significant to have two largest labor unions in NY joining together in one action.
In the 2023 world of the UFT, this is what action looks like. For the record, we have combined with other unions over the years on several occasions, including a giant municipal labor rally in the late nineties. We should be doing that now to fight to preserve our free healthcare choices, not allow retiree healthcare to be privatized as well as to demand salary increases that keep up with inflation for active members.
In other news from the Executive Board, High School Rep Luli Rodriguez brought a long-term substitute who is being paid as a day-to-day sub to the meeting to speak at the open mic. This blog has complained about numerous new teachers being cheated out of regular pay for years. Apparently, it is still a problem. Nick also reported on the fight to stop the expansion of charter schools.
The Executive Board did unanimously passed a resolution on policing:
1 comment:
Mulgrew wants DC37 to settle first to set the pattern. If the pattern is crap, then Mulgrew can put up his hands and say, "There's nothing I can do about it". I remember the big municipal rally in the 90's but that was a bit before the UFT because a corporate union that is now merely an extension of the DOE/Mayor. The fact is that UFT leadership is not fighting for anything. In fact, they are fighting against the rank and file members best interest by trying to erode our healthcare.
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