Once Again, UFT Leadership Thumbs Their Nose At the Members

Parking private automobiles near our schools has been a contentious issue over the years. There is no doubt adequate parking is an integral part of teacher working conditions and we would expect that our Union would play a role in determining  the parameters of this benefit. 

We have seen this right, like most of our workplace rights, radically change over the years. Teacher parking passes were given to any teacher that wanted one, years ago. Under both the Bloomberg and de Blasio administrations the Union has given back this right so that only a few of the parking passes are available to each school and the number of street parking spaces has dwindled.

In response to these concessions, in schools were administrators were sympathetic to the loss of parking privilege school yards and other city property became parking lots. Where the administrators were not so sympathetic the teachers had to find private lots or other parking far from their school if they wanted to use their private automobile for commuting.

In 2019, New York State enacted the MTA Reform and Traffic Mobility Act, directing the  MTA  to establish a congestion tolling program in the Manhattan Central Business District defined as Manhattan south of and inclusive of 60th Street, but excluding the FDR Drive, the West Side Highway, and any surface roadway portion of the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connecting to West Street. After extensive review a $15 fee was proposed for automobiles to enter the district.

New Jersey responded by claiming that the fee was unfair since, according to their lawsuit, a proper environmental impact review was not undertaken.

According to the Post our Union President called the Borough President of Staten Island several months ago to discuss this issue. The membership was neither notified nor consulted about what action, if any, should be taken.

With the New Year our beloved President, just as he is trying to strong-arm the erosion of health care benefits for our members and retirees decided to bring a lawsuit, along with the Staten Island Borough President, to stop congestion pricing. Our dues is paying the legal bills.

The lawsuit argues that Staten Island wasn't properly included in the environmental impact review and that Staten Island resident teachers (at least 7) might be forced to take public transportation to avoid the toll, something the 2019 law anticipated. The lawsuit also includes Michael Mulgrew who, as resident of Staten Island, would presumably be impacted by the congestion pricing. 

Our Union leadership has a history of unilateral and non-membership involved decision making. We must make certain we don't get shut out again!