Thursday, November 14, 2024

Ageism Is Anti-Union: Why Aqeel Williams’s Mocking of UFT Retiree Delegates Should Alarm Us All

In his recent blog post in Education Notes, Norm Scott highlighted a troubling incident involving Aqeel Williams, the UFT District 9 Unity Caucus Representative, who reportedly mocked retiree delegates with ageist memes in a group chat during a Delegate Assembly (DA). This incident might seem trivial at first, but it points to a larger issue within the United Federation of Teachers (UFT): an increasingly hostile stance toward retirees, a group who have given decades to this union and to New York City students. Ageism has no place in our union—or in any union for that matter. This incident serves as yet another indication of how disconnected UFT leadership has become from the rank and file.

Ageism isn’t just offensive; it’s fundamentally anti-union. Unions are built on solidarity and the understanding that every member, regardless of age or experience, brings invaluable contributions to the table. By mocking retirees, Williams undermines the very foundation of unionism: respect and unity among members. The retirees in question are not only dues-paying members but also educators who have dedicated years to our schools, our students, and the fight for fairer treatment and better conditions for all of us. For these members to be dismissed as “feeble” or ridiculed because of their age is not only unprofessional but a betrayal of the union values that should bind us together.

Williams is also a member of the UFT Election Committee, a position that requires impartiality, professionalism, and respect for all members. How can retirees—who make up a significant portion of UFT membership—have confidence in his role if he’s demonstrated such a dismissive attitude toward them? This is a matter of integrity and accountability, and UFT leadership’s silence on this incident only heightens the sense of division within our union.

This isn’t the first time Unity Caucus has failed to stand up for the rank and file. For years, we’ve seen a widening disconnect between UFT leadership and the everyday educators who work tirelessly in classrooms and beyond. Retirees, who have the benefit of experience and historical perspective, have increasingly become vocal advocates at DAs. They are some of our most engaged members, using their knowledge and time to ensure that the union remains accountable to the membership. But rather than welcoming these contributions, leadership seems almost fearful, as if these retirees threaten their hold on power.

Retirees have become essential voices in the UFT’s internal democracy, speaking truth to power and calling for reforms that reflect the needs of active and retired educators alike. Mocking them with ageist memes is an attempt to belittle and silence their contributions. Leadership’s failure to address this behavior reflects a troubling lack of solidarity with the very members they claim to represent.

This incident with Aqeel Williams highlights why the UFT urgently needs new leadership. The current leadership’s refusal to condemn these ageist actions sends a message that their priorities lie not with the values of mutual respect, professionalism, and solidarity but with maintaining power at any cost. The lack of action signals to members that leadership either condones or is indifferent to this divisive behavior—neither of which are acceptable.

The fact that Williams was “on the clock” and being paid with union dues while engaging in this behavior further emphasizes the issue. UFT members pay dues to support representatives who advocate for us, not to mock or disrespect fellow union members. With contract negotiations on the horizon and critical fights ahead, we need leadership that represents the professionalism, strength, and unity of the entire union, not just a select few.

Unions are only as strong as their unity, and that unity is jeopardized when segments of our membership—such as retirees—are treated with contempt. It’s time to push for a UFT that recognizes the value and wisdom of all its members, young and old, active and retired. Mockery and division weaken our ability to stand together, especially as we prepare for challenging negotiations and the continuing fight for public education. We need leaders who will uplift all members, who understand the stakes of our work, and who respect the rights and contributions of every educator who has fought and continues to fight for the next generation.

A call for new leadership isn’t just a reaction to one incident—it’s a call for a fundamental shift in how we respect and value each other within our union. Ageism has no place in the UFT, and our future depends on making sure that every member, regardless of age, is respected, supported, and represented. It’s time for leadership that embodies the values that define us as a union.

4 comments:

  1. We have to demand an apology at the next DA meeting. If any of us posted a meme making fun of his ethnicity or religion, there would be hell to Psy. At the least, we least, all us old geezers should write to him.

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  2. Is Jeff Kaufman of ICEUFT undermining union solidarity in pursuit of his own agenda?

    When people who like to point fingers and have no real plan to fix or make things better, they clutch at straws. Recently, a member of ICEUFT, Jeff Kaufman, wrote a blog intentionally targeting a UFT Member, making false claims against the member and the entire Unity Caucus. While Jeff Kaufman goes on to vaguely describe the incident with doctored, sketch pictures, he would have you believe that the Unity Caucus failed to address; it is imperative to note as you read through what is written in the blog that the real intention is to focus on false claims from ICE regarding what they believe Unity Caucus has done or not done while propping themselves up as standing up for the rank-and-file of our union.


    Guess what? I am a member of the rank and file who does not condone discrimination of ANY KIND, and what you have done here is try to blame the entire rank and file who are not part of your caucus for an alleged incident which, for all intents and purpose is A LIE!

    Jeff Kaufman alleges that our union, specifically Unity Caucus, has been hostile toward its retirees. Suggesting that ICE is different or probably better.


    So, let’s focus:

    1. No other union has continued to embrace and work with and for its retirees as the UFT has.

    2. Our union has always embraced our retirees, regardless of caucus

    3. Our union has worked tirelessly to ensure that the rights of all its members are not violated, both in service and retirees

    4. The voices and opinions of our retirees continue to inform our decisions, enabling our union to grow even stronger


    As someone who was raised by my great-grandmother, who has worked with the elderly, who has family members who are retired city workers, and who is a member of the UFT and Unity Caucus, I take issue with any individual or group claiming that our Union or Caucus has failed to stand up for everyone in our union.


    Jeff Kaufman, how dare you?


    It seems you intend to divide instead of working to unite. How about you focus on the real issues faced by our union and provide some real solutions?


    Jeff Kaufman, Bitter does not make you Better!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your response. Your comments seem to indicate you were insulted by my piece about ageism with the UFT but a few points need to be clarified. Your comments call the accusations I made a lie but no where do you refute the allegations. Interestingly you implicitly admit the allegations toward the end of your comment when you observe that my comments should have been directed at the caucus, not the rank and file. Clearly my piece did not accuse the UFT leadership of the ageist accusations but did accuse the UFT leadership of its complicity by not condemning the behavior.

      The UFT has done an awful job of representing retirees as evidenced by the recent attempt to require City retirees lose their choice of Medicare in exchange for a private profit driven Medicare Advantage program. What makes this especially egregious is that no retiree had a say nor had notice of this change since the UFT DOES NOT represent retirees on the MLC, yet they negotiated their rights away.

      Unity has always had a problem with rank and file members who disagree with their policies and actions. In fact they can control descension within its caucus (by requiring signed loyalty oaths) but a union loses its validity when it criticizes, belittles and ostracizes members who dare to suggest they may be doing something against members interests or, at worse, only caring about their own positions in detriment to the rank and file.

      Unlike the loyalty oaths that Unity require its members to sign, true union solidarity is measured by the extent unions are inclusive and represent the best of our democratic traditions.

      Thanks, again, for sharing your thoughts.

      Delete
  3. Maybe this was not clear to you:
    "making false claims against the member and the entire Unity Caucus. While Jeff Kaufman goes on to vaguely describe the incident with doctored, sketch pictures, he would have you believe that the Unity Caucus failed to address; it is imperative to note as you read through what is written in the blog that the real intention is to focus on false claims from ICE regarding what they believe Unity Caucus has done or not done while propping themselves up as standing up for the rank-and-file of our union."

    Your response clearly shows that you have no problem with lying because you even state that I implicitly admitted the allegations. Where did you see that in my response? When a person chooses to lie, they interpret things in a way that serves their agenda. Your agenda is obvious.

    What would you like the UFT leadership to address, YOUR LIE? If you are doctoring images and putting people's names on them, the response you are getting from THIS or any other member should be enough! This member is calling you out on the lies and misinformation you choose to spread to me and others. This member is annoyed that ANYONE would do that to a colleague without verifying the information first. This member finds your actions to be deplorable. Let me ask you the million-dollar question: did the person you are accusing send you these messages you are claiming they sent? If not, how can you say for sure that it happened?

    If you wanted to talk with the leadership to address issues, then a blog would not be the place to do so. Spreading misinformation is not the way to do it. You did not do the mindful or respectful thing to verify that what you are posting is true. Especially since you are a supporter of the rank and file! You jumped to post and chastise, focusing more on what you believe Unity Caucus has not done to suggest that your caucus would be better at leadership than what is in place.

    So, your claim that you speak for and support the rank and file only applies to those in your caucus because you have chosen to attack those not members of your caucus by the lies you spread.

    As a matter of fact, what loyalty oath are the Unity Caucus Members asked to sign? AGAIN, ANOTHER LIE! I have never been asked to sign anything declaring my loyalty. So again Sir, WHY LIE?

    Speak about your agenda and your work. Be sure that your agenda and work promotes unity and improves our union. Let that be your focus!

    ReplyDelete

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