tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post112960062240361249..comments2024-03-07T15:25:26.971-05:00Comments on ICEUFT Blog: Union Leadership Rules Out of Order Measure to Ensure Democratic RatificationJeff Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11728874415155394751noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1130882976923791552005-11-01T17:09:00.000-05:002005-11-01T17:09:00.000-05:00Nobody will miss you if you don't come to the DA. ...Nobody will miss you if you don't come to the DA. I'm sure there are plenty of Unity members who can borrow your rubber stamp.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1130801431733946402005-10-31T18:30:00.000-05:002005-10-31T18:30:00.000-05:00No...I think it's more that the low class trash th...No...I think it's more that the low class trash that poses as teachers and screams at their own union members because they can't stand the thought of a democratic vote taking place makes our union look ridiculous. I don't know how you relate that to our pay scale....seems like just more hyperbolic venom on your part.<BR/><BR/>As I said, given the foul behavior of the "No" voters and protesters at the delegates meeting I was embarrassed to be affiliated with the UFT. I don't know about you, but I teach my students to act with integrity, respect democracy and carry themselves in a dignified manner. I do the same, which is why I will personally never attend a UFT meeting again. Shame on you, as you say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1130796549792508832005-10-31T17:09:00.000-05:002005-10-31T17:09:00.000-05:00To the Anonymous Above-Outlooks like yours have ma...To the Anonymous Above-<BR/><BR/>Outlooks like yours have made us the lowest paid educators in the area.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1130732045087899832005-10-30T23:14:00.000-05:002005-10-30T23:14:00.000-05:00Just a note here...I was at the delegate assembly ...Just a note here...I was at the delegate assembly meeting and the vote was certainly overwhelmingly yes. Whether or not the teachers will now vote yes or no is another matter and one which we will all know to answer to on Friday.<BR/><BR/>No matter how we vote however, I have to say that that meeting was one of the low points of my life. I was never so embarassed by a bunch of adults who actually claim to be educated and claim to be "educators" as well. I thought that the protesters outside were horrific and behaved like barbarians. How dare someone who doesn't know me and further more doesn't know how I voted call me a <BR/>F----g B----ch. It was the worst treatment by my "brothers and sisters" in this union that I could imagine. Personally, I don't ever want to be associated with some of you guys ever again. I'd love the union to fade away so I could negotiate my pay like I did in the real world. Get a life and wash your mouths out with soap!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1130433733484214042005-10-27T13:22:00.000-04:002005-10-27T13:22:00.000-04:00A replacement word for hack, which captures your i...A replacement word for hack, which captures your intended meaning:<BR/>sycophant.<BR/><BR/>Lord knows how many there are, for the reasons you state - "welcome to the club" and feel free to armchair preach to those who suffer: teachers and kids and parents. It's not just the demoralization and overwork/stress, but a still irrational system. And speaking of irrational, has anyone heard anything about the biggest budget item and biggest disgrace in all of education: *Special* Education? Try finding some reality coming out of the UFT, articles in the NY Teacher, or chapter news of any value.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1130290781214123372005-10-25T21:39:00.000-04:002005-10-25T21:39:00.000-04:00So what if teachers are voting yes. Why follow th...So what if teachers are voting yes. Why follow the masses? The greatest benefit you can give yourself and others is to vote no.<BR/><BR/> I just spoke to a friend of mine, a union rep who has been teaching for a very long time. He is telling teachers to vote the way they want to, but he is voting no. He is retiring soon -- will not be affected by a 6th period or letters in the file. But his conscience is telling him to vote no. Says it all, doesn't it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1130288661589419872005-10-25T21:04:00.000-04:002005-10-25T21:04:00.000-04:00It should be very interesting when we see the perc...It should be very interesting when we see the percentage the contract passes with. I think there's a lot of negative noise here, but you're in for a surprise. Out there in the real world, teachers are voting yes and yes and yes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1130283719732394692005-10-25T19:41:00.000-04:002005-10-25T19:41:00.000-04:00Vote No, No NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NOVote No, No NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NOAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1130266928255401922005-10-25T15:02:00.000-04:002005-10-25T15:02:00.000-04:00Yada, yada, yada. If you want something better an...Yada, yada, yada. If you want something better and you believe you can get better, Vote No. It is not about Randi or Unity or Ice or Bloomberg/Klein. It is about not wanting this contract. Vote NO and lets try to do better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1130248844822117182005-10-25T10:00:00.000-04:002005-10-25T10:00:00.000-04:00The nastiness and name-calling on this website is ...The nastiness and name-calling on this website is unbelievable. In just this thread, Randi, who works tirelessly for UFT members, is called a rat, a wolf, a sellout, etc. Bill Stamatis, one of the nicest guys in town, is accused of being a hack sending out 'vile' (sic) emails to UFT members. It is unconscionable that this unedited tripe should be taken by anyone as a viable UFT site, even an opposition site. It is clear that all the ICEpeople want to do is demean and destroy the UFT. Could they be secretly in the pay of Klein and Bloomberg? Isn’t it true that a certain member of their leadership works for the DOE in a part time position? They are so filled with hate and envy that they view all members of the UFT Leadership as enemies of the teachers. Nothing could be further from the truth. The people who work for the union spend their days trying to make the lives of teachers easier and better. Whatever their well-deserved salaries, they work evenings, weekends and holidays. Everyone in the schools (except the poisoned ICEpeople) knows that. Maybe when the ICEpeople spend more time making constructive suggestions rather than ranting over whether the ratification issue passed the DA with 80% or 70% approval (no one disputes that it passed) and how the chapter leaders can stuff the ballot box, they will be able to form a credible opposition movement. Until then, ICE and this website will remain a joke.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1129903744748855932005-10-21T10:09:00.000-04:002005-10-21T10:09:00.000-04:00Anonymous said ".....Most people work a 9 to whate...Anonymous said ".....Most people work a 9 to whatever time job and lately, they don't get raises."<BR/><BR/>Anon: I am very good at what I do, Anon, and efficiency and productivity does have its rewards, monetary and otherwise.<BR/>It's more than obvious you don't know what the hell you are talking about. (and no, I was not management)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1129896610790919852005-10-21T08:10:00.000-04:002005-10-21T08:10:00.000-04:00"Dear Anonymous,I come from 25 years in the corpor..."Dear Anonymous,<BR/>I come from 25 years in the corporate world. You must have had some lousy jobs! The difference between working in a corporate environment, and working in this system is that when you receive a raise - you ACTUALLY receive a raise! No hours are added to your 9-5 workday."<BR/><BR/>Obviously you haven't been in the corporate world for many years, if you were actually there at all. Or maybe you were lucky. Most people who taut that line are people who are talking about perceptions, rather than reality.<BR/><BR/>But more importantly, who works a 9-5 job in the corporate world?<BR/><B>Most people work a 9 to whatever time</B> job and lately, they don't get raises.<BR/><BR/>Oh, perhaps you were management at those corporate jobs. They usually pay themselves big fat raises while everyone else gets little to nothing while taking on new responsibilities. Especially since 2000.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1129890026879010982005-10-21T06:20:00.000-04:002005-10-21T06:20:00.000-04:00Anonymous said... What turd blossoms habituate thi...Anonymous said... <BR/>What turd blossoms habituate this comment board? I can't believe my eyes! Hacks? Sounds to me that there are plenty of hacks who operate this blog site! They sound like a one tune banjo! Just say no! That's a failed policy for Nancy Reagan and will be a hollow refrain on Nov 3!"<BR/><BR/>Hey Anon! How much are you being paid to put this kind of crap on this blog? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! You obviously are a mouthpiece for the UFT, who holds the title for hacking up the facts and spitting it out as so much truth. Shame on you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1129889798819847252005-10-21T06:16:00.000-04:002005-10-21T06:16:00.000-04:00Anonymous said... Maybe people on this blog haven'...Anonymous said... <BR/>Maybe people on this blog haven't ever worked outside the school system. They sound so wronged over what seems like a decent enough offer for these times. Most jobs I've had in the city the workplaces are just as tough, bosses are just as bad, hours are worse, job security is much less and no one fights for your raises--you usually don't get them. That's just reality. The righteous indignation here sounds kind of comical."<BR/><BR/>Dear Anonymous,<BR/>I come from 25 years in the corporate world. You must have had some lousy jobs! The difference between working in a corporate environment, and working in this system is that when you receive a raise - you ACTUALLY receive a raise! No hours are added to your 9-5 workday. The respect one receives in the corporate world doesn't hold a candle to this system. In the corporate world, if you are good at what you do, the rewards are infinite. Guess you weren't that good!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1129868265427494382005-10-21T00:17:00.000-04:002005-10-21T00:17:00.000-04:00What turd blossoms habituate this comment board? I...What turd blossoms habituate this comment board? I can't believe my eyes! Hacks? Sounds to me that there are plenty of hacks who operate this blog site! They sound like a one tune banjo! Just say no! That's a failed policy for Nancy Reagan and will be a hollow refrain on Nov 3!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1129860740950212432005-10-20T22:12:00.000-04:002005-10-20T22:12:00.000-04:00Over 90% of my school is voting no. The contract ...Over 90% of my school is voting no. The contract is a transparent piece of rubbish. Most teachers know this.<BR/> Unity Hacks sounds too polite -- Unity terrorists sounds more apropos. <BR/><BR/> I am so tired and sickened by the union leadership. I regret that I didn't take an interest earlier -- that I 'slept with the enemy' thinking it was a friend. Now I have awakened after having a dream about obtaining a dignified respectful contract and a union without Randi and Company.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1129860332270372132005-10-20T22:05:00.000-04:002005-10-20T22:05:00.000-04:00I heard about retirees in schools in queens today ...I heard about retirees in schools in queens today trying to encourage us to vote down athe contract? Is that true?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1129860264698601112005-10-20T22:04:00.000-04:002005-10-20T22:04:00.000-04:00It is interesting how everyone keeps claiming abou...It is interesting how everyone keeps claiming about "Unity hacks" trying to tell you about the contract. Didn't it pass the Executive Board and the DA by large/overwhelming numbers? Doesn't that make it OFFICIAL UFT POLICY? I thought they were just trying to inform people of that policy supporting the proposal. It didn't seem to be about one caucus or another.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1129856674863563772005-10-20T21:04:00.000-04:002005-10-20T21:04:00.000-04:00The fact that they are visiting schools to sell th...The fact that they are visiting schools to sell this reeks of desperation. It's simply unconscionable that Unity threatens its members, rather than management, with a strike.<BR/><BR/>They sent a spin guy to my school today, after our executive board voted "no confidence" in the ability of UFT leadership to negotiate a fair contract.<BR/><BR/>They didn't persuade anyone.NYC Educatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12188066345722781723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1129836598144075752005-10-20T15:29:00.000-04:002005-10-20T15:29:00.000-04:00NormScott:It's interesing how frivolous dilletante...NormScott:<BR/>It's interesing how frivolous dilletantes who have no stake in the consequences of what they espouse, can be so vocal about a contract that doesn't apply to them. <BR/><BR/>But I do have a few questions.<BR/><BR/>Norm Scott what will the consequences of a strike be for you? Let's see will you be drinking a fine burgundy some where in the south of France, collecting your pension checks while the rest of us are paying two for one? (By the way, that pension benefit is the result of the hard work of the UFT.)<BR/><BR/>What's ICE's position on F-Status employees who are taking away potential full-time positions from our members?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1129829625589384592005-10-20T13:33:00.000-04:002005-10-20T13:33:00.000-04:00Norm Scott,I used to like your newsletter but now ...Norm Scott,<BR/>I used to like your newsletter but now I think you're just nasty. I wouldn't want to work with someone who debates at your level.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1129829372553218772005-10-20T13:29:00.000-04:002005-10-20T13:29:00.000-04:00Maybe people on this blog haven't ever worked outs...Maybe people on this blog haven't ever worked outside the school system. They sound so wronged over what seems like a decent enough offer for these times. Most jobs I've had in the city the workplaces are just as tough, bosses are just as bad, hours are worse, job security is much less and no one fights for your raises--you usually don't get them. That's just reality. The righteous indignation here sounds kind of comical.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1129829328054160372005-10-20T13:28:00.000-04:002005-10-20T13:28:00.000-04:00Maybe people on this blog haven't ever worked outs...Maybe people on this blog haven't ever worked outside the school system. They sound so wronged over what seems like a decent enough offer for these times. Most jobs I've had in the city the workplaces are just as tough, bosses are just as bad, hours are worse, job security is much less and no one fights for your raises--you usually don't get them. That's just reality. The righteous indignation here sounds kind of comical.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1129816732540711652005-10-20T09:58:00.000-04:002005-10-20T09:58:00.000-04:00In spring 2004, Weingarten got 89 percent of the v...In spring 2004, Weingarten got 89 percent of the vote. That's pretty close to 94 percent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-1129809597972762672005-10-20T07:59:00.000-04:002005-10-20T07:59:00.000-04:00Kombiz I may have been a bit harsh in reaction t...Kombiz<BR/> I may have been a bit harsh in reaction to Bill's posts. And we have always had a good relationship. At one point years ago he even said to me about internal union politiics when he was doing a story that involved stuff I was doing "I don't worry about that or get involved."<BR/><BR/>Well he sure has reversed himself which really surprised me. I never considered Bill a hack and still don't but he is moving in that direction at lightning speed.<BR/> <BR/>You miss the point: let's face it, people who work for the UFT DO gain financially in a BIG way in selling this contract without suffering the consequences. In the interests of open disclosure they should say that. Bill is not just using the network he runs and has access to to pass on neutral information. He is using that access to every chapter leader's email address to take a partisan stand. I don't have access to all the emails that get stuff he sends out that attacks ICE and TJC. <BR/><BR/>The people in ICE and TJC do pay his salary so as a union employee who is truly supplying info to people and doing a good job doing it, why would he suddenly jump into the fray? Knowing Bill all these years it makes me scratch my head. <BR/><BR/>Let Bill give Jeff and I equal access to the network of informaton he has been able to gather as part of his job and use to criticize us under the official UFT seal and let us respond.<BR/> <BR/>PS: We are having political disagreements and once in a while we get heated and things slip into the personal area. I do not take it personally when ICE is accused by Unity people of using "terror" to scare people into voting NO. <BR/><BR/>The reaction we are getting from people in the schools to the "suits" flooding the schools to browbeat people into voting YES has not generally been positive -- they talk for most of the period teachers have given up to attend and teachers get a few minutes to ask questions and if there are people opposed they do not get time to make a presentation. There is no honest and open debate taking place. And Bill's actions have contributed to that atmosphere.<BR/><BR/>On your statement: "It soils progressive unionism to attack other unionists because of what they make when they are working for the union" I would consider it if the UFT were a progressive union. But a proegressive union doesn't have 40 years of one person-rule and a lock-down political machine paid for by the membership. The Executive Board has 5 out of 89 non-Unity - about 6%. Try and tell me that 94% of UFT'ers who till work are pro-Unity. When we see true reform in the UFT then we will talk about a "progressive" union. Until then, yes, we will be pointing to the salaries of union employees who attack us.<BR/>NormAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com