Alliance of Concerned Teachers
By ACT! Editor, Joseph Mudgett
"I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts."
John Locke (1632 - 1704)
Opinion and reporting relating to our union.
With only 22% of teachers voting (about 15,400 out of 70,000), only 21% of functional chapters voting (9,000 out of 42,000), and only 45% of retirees voting (22,500 out of 50,000), Randi Weingarten and her Unity/New Action coalition won 87% of the vote, to ICE-TJC's 13%.
Put another way, Weingarten and her Unity/New Action group received votes from 16.5% (11,500) of teachers, while ICE-TJC received support from 5.5% (3,900) of teachers. And Unity/New Action received votes from 17% (7,032) of functional chapters, while ICE-TJC received support from 2.5% (1,032) of functional chapters. Such a result is hardly a mandate from teachers and the functional chapters.
Why did 80% of teachers, nurses, paraprofessionals, guidance counselors, and the rest of the functional chapters sit out this election? Many are saying it was apathy. But apathy is a symptom, not a diagnosis. In my opinion, there are three main reasons for the thundering silence.
First, one must consider the members who don't think their vote makes a difference, that nothing will change no matter what they do. Second, are the members who are unaware they have a choice, those who are uninformed about the issues and politics within the union. Third, are the members who tacitly support Unity, and didn't feel the need to vote believing Unity would win anyway.
What does this mean for the opposition led by ICE and TJC? If they can activate an additional 12% of the teachers, and 15% of the functional chapters they can actually achieve victory at the teacher and functional chapter levels. To do this they need to target those who believe they can't make a difference, and those who are simply uninformed. The challenge is how to do this over the course of the next three years.
Another challenge is how to activate the non-voters among retirees.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers wishes to see the UFT become a strong union once again, with members aware of the issues and actively participating in the union's affairs. It is clear that each vote does matter, that each vote does make a difference. Let's up the vote in the next election!
The Committee to investigate the selection process for District Representatives, established by resolution of the Delegate Assembly on November 8, 2006, met for the first time on March 26, 2007. Considering that it took four months to convene the initial meeting, I don't expect any quick resolution to this important issue. Nonetheless, I will attempt the Herculean task of convincing my fellow committee members that a completely transparent democratic process, where members directly elect their representatives, is in the best interests of the union.
Why Herculean? Consider the makeup of the committee: chaired by President Weingarten (who has been appointing district reps since 2003), members include Secretary/Chief of Staff, Mike Mendel, Senior Assistant to the President, Jeff Zahler, a half dozen district reps, at least one borough representative, one or two other UFT officials, a gentleman from New Action, James Eterno from ICE, and myself, representing the Alliance of Concerned Teachers and the viewpoint of the Unified Teachers Party.
Much as I would like to share the details of the deliberations with my readers, I cannot, since all committee members were asked to keep the proceedings in strictest confidence. But rest assured I will publish a complete report once the committee has completed its mission and the cone of silence is lifted.
In early March you will receive a ballot in the mail from the UFT. The ballot will list three choices: Unity, New Action, and ICE-TJC. To make an informed decision in this important election that will determine our union's leadership for the next three years, you need to know the history of these three groups.
Unity caucus has ruled the UFT since 1960. In its early years Unity helped teachers achieve solid contracts that protected their seniority rights and working conditions. This sometimes meant going out on strike in defiance of New York State's Taylor Law, which states that strikes by public employees are illegal, and strikers and their unions can be penalized monetarily. Several effective strikes won major gains for teachers.
However, being in power for 45 years has changed the nature of Unity. Our union has become very corporate and bureaucratized. Unity leadership is more concerned with maintaining their power and the jobs and perks they control, and have lost touch with the UFT members they are supposed to serve.
This situation brought us working teachers the terrible contract in 2005 that gave away our seniority rights, our rights to grieve unfair letters placed in our files by unscrupulous administrators, and gave us Circular 6R "professional" assignments (such as hall patrol and cafeteria duty), a longer school day and a longer school year. The recent contract simply extends these abuses into the year 2009. And what was our reward? A "raise" that is a lot less than cost of living.
For info about Unity check out their website at Unity Website.
Well, what about New Action? More than 12 years ago New Action began as a viable opposition to Unity. Unfortunately, in election after election they made less and less headway against Unity. Which is why things changed in 2003. The leaders of New Action sold out to Unity for jobs and perks at the UFT. In this election they have endorsed Randi Weingarten, the Unity candidate, for reelection as president of the UFT. That fact alone informs us they are no longer an opposition caucus, regardless of their stated positions.
For more info about New Action write to: New Action/UFT, P.O. Box 180574, North Richmond Hill, NY 11418.
Some of the New Action people became upset with this sell out and joined a group of independents to form a new opposition caucus: ICE (Independent Community of Educators). ICE is comprised of teachers dedicated to improving the working conditions of teachers, improving schools, and improving the education of New York City's school children.
In 2004 three of their members got elected to High School Executive Board positions, and have been a thorn in Unity's side ever since. They worked hard to mobilize teachers to oppose the 2005 "Givebacks" contract the Unity people flooded the schools to sell. It was during that contract fight that I met them and decided that they had my best interests at heart. If you recall, a whopping 40% of UFT members voted against that contract!
For more info about ICE, check out their blog at ICE Blog.
In this election ICE has teamed up with TJC (Teachers for a Just Contract). The TJC caucus has existed for more than 12 years, but was overshadowed by New Action. Yet TJC, too, won three seats to the Executive Board in 2004. I have gotten to know some of them, as well. Their candidate for president, Kit Wainer, is an experienced teacher who wants our members to fare much better in contracts than we have of late.
For more info about TJC, check out their website at TJC Website.
The ICE-TJC slate is our best hope to accomplish positive change in our moribund union. They will work hard (and not just pay lip service) to restore strength to our chapters and our members. They will trim the bureaucracy and get our union working for us once more. In my opinion, there is no better choice. I suggest, though, that you do your own research and make up your own mind.
ICE-TJC is endorsed by ACT! The Alliance of Concerned Teachers, and the Unified Teachers Party.
For more info about the Unified Teachers Party check out their website at UTP Website or their blog at UTP Blog.
If you want a union that works for you, there is only one choice in the upcoming March UFT elections: ICE-TJC! Why? There are several compelling reasons.
First, there was the contract of 2005 that the Unity caucus, led by UFT president Randi Weingarten, worked tooth and nail to foist upon us. You remember, the contract that gave us two extra work days in the summer, a longer school day, a "sixth" class, loss of grievance rights and seniority rights, and implementation of Circular 6R assignments (potty patrols and hallway duty, etc.). The 2006 contract simply extends these abuses thru 2009. And all for less than cost of living!
Second, the power grab by president Weingarten in 2003, when she ended elections of District Representatives and began appointing them instead, is continuing. Will the new committee to study the selection process of district representatives bear any democratic fruit? Who knows. At some point in the unknown future this committee (of which I am a part) will make its recommendations to the Executive Board. Can you wait that long? The elections are in March. A better idea is voting for ICE-TJC.
Third, if you want transparency you won't get it from Unity. They have repeatedly refused to report on the actual number of ATRs (experienced teachers who have been made into substitute teachers) that the rampant school closings have created. They won't tell you how many teachers are in the "rubber rooms" either. Why not?
Fourth, Unity is not pursuing lower class sizes in contract negotiations. Making smaller class sizes a contract issue will force the DOE to channel CFE billions into building new schools to ensure lower class sizes. Overcrowded schools and large classes are not serving the students in our great city.
Finally, you must consider the fact that ICE-TJC is the only true group of teachers to oppose the unresponsive Unity regime. New Action, the oldest "opposition" group in the UFT, is endorsing UFT president Weingarten in this election and no longer opposes Unity policy. If you oppose Unity, don't vote for New Action.
Let's take back our union! Vote for ICE-TJC!
Let's give credit where credit is due. President Weingarten and the Executive Board put the issue of district representative selection on the floor of the Delegate Assembly on November 8, 2006. The resolution they presented called for two things. First, that the president would continue making appointments of district representatives. Second, that a "bi-partisan" committee should be formed to study and recommend what would be the best way to select district representatives.
For more than a yearACT! The Alliance of Concerned Teachers and the Unified Teachers Party have been promoting a change in the district representative selection process. We believe that members should directly elect their district representatives, something that has never been done before.
We were extremely concerned when the Executive Board formulated an "emergency" policy in 2003 that granted the president the power to appoint district representatives. This changed the long-standing policy of chapter leaders electing district representatives, a right enjoyed since 1969!
ACT! and the UTP drafted an amendment to the Executive Board's resolution calling for a return to elections by chapter leaders until the new committee presents its report to the Executive Board. Our hope is that the committee will decide to put the selection process directly into the hands of the members.
That amendment was narrowly defeated and the resolution passed. Since many of the teachers I represent wish to see district representatives elected in a democratic process, I will be joining the new committee. I hope it will not simply be a "bi-partisan" committee because I believe there are more than two viewpoints on this issue among our members. I look forward to engaging in a serious debate on this important issue, and I urge those who wish to see more democracy in our union to join me on the committee!
Why not ACT! Out? Check out our Elect District Representatives Now! email campaign in ACT! Out .
Simply shameful! That's how ACT! describes the Unity dominated Executive Board's vote on Monday, September 25 to allow President Randi Weingarten to continue appointing district representatives.
According to the September 27 article on the ICE Blog , Executive Board member, Jeff Kaufman, informed the Executive Board on September 11 that President Weingarten had been making illegal appointments of district representatives since the end of June. Apparently, the Executive Board had neglected to renew the 2003 "emergency" district representative resolution. This resolution put an end to district representative elections by chapter leaders, a right previously enjoyed by the membership since 1969! Mr. Kaufman pointed out that the long standing policy of chapter elections for district representation legally went back into effect at the end of June.
Not wishing to share power with the dues paying members, the Unity dominated Executive Board decided to let President Weingarten continue appointing district representatives. Concurrently, in an attempt to appease the membership, the board also created a committee to do a study to determine the best way to select district representatives. Once the study has been finalized, the officers and Executive Board are to consider the committee's findings.
The president has invited me to join this committee and I have accepted this invitation. I will provide ACT! readers with reports from the inside on this committee's activities and findings.
It is the opinion of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, ACT!, that restoring democracy in our union is of the utmost importance. We, the members, should have a say in how we are represented by our union. What do you think?
Why not ACT! Out? Check out our Elect District Representatives Now! email campaign in ACT! Out .
Looking beyond election day this November, UFT members are preparing for their union's big election in the spring. The stakes are high. The election will determine how you are represented for the next three years!
Eleven officers (including president), 80 Executive Board members, and some 800 delegates to the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) will be selected to represent us. From what I understand, NYSUT holds an annual convention while the AFT has a convention every other year.
In the last election, the opposition (ICE and TJC) ran a partial slate and won six Executive Board seats. No mean feat considering how powerfully organized the controlling Unity caucus is.
It is the opinion of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, ACT!, that it is vital to increase the number of alternative viewpoints in our union's leadership, to strengthen the spirit of democracy in the American tradition.
To that end it is extremely important for reform-minded and independent UFT members to join forces with ICE and TJC to fill a complete slate. Why? Voters have two options when they vote. They may vote for a slate, or they may vote for individuals. Clearly, with 800 positions, voting for one slate is simplest.
Anyone who has followed my writings here, on the UTP (Unified Teachers Party) web site and blog, other reform blogs, and the Opinion page of the Staten Island Advance, knows that I disagree with the Unity leadership on numerous issues. Thus I could not refuse the Independent Community of Educators (ICE) caucus when they asked me if I would run for one of the Executive Board positions. My esteemed father (a former chapter leader at Curtis High School and union activist) always told me that people need to put up or shut up.
The ICE/TJC team has nearly completed negotiations as to who will run for the 11 officer positions, and many of the key executive board spots. But it is their wish, and mine, that the alternative slate of 800 be completely full by the early February filing deadline.
I urge my fellow UFT members (teachers, para professionals, nurses, guidance counselors, psychologists, etc.) to step up to the plate and run with us. A full slate of committed reformists and independents will send a message to Unity and all of our members that folks are no longer happy with the status quo. Not after the abuses and indignities inflicted upon us by the recent contract.
Do we have a realistic chance of winning control of the UFT? Maybe not, but we do stand an excellent chance of increasing our presence in the leadership halls. Every seat won by the alternative and independent forces within our union will improve the democratic state of our union and put the Unity caucus on notice that they must engage in a dialog with the various voices in our union!
Why not ACT! Out? Check out our Election 2007 column in ACT! Out .
In Germany they came first for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up
because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time
no one was left to speak up.
Martin Niemoller
Martin Niemoller's poem teaches a lesson we all need to learn and act on now!
My fellow teacher unionists, who will speak up for the more than one thousand experienced teachers who have been excessed from closing schools and demoted to substitute teacher status? Will the Unity caucus that rules our union speak up for them? I think not, when you consider that it was Unity that aggressively sold this contract to our members.
Veteran teachers with years of classroom experience have been relegated to ATR (Absent Teacher Reserve) substitute status so that autocratic principals can hire new teachers instead. This disgraceful waste of human resources is, unfortunately, an inevitable result of our recent contract.
What happened to the common sense approach to education, where new teachers are hired and mentored by their more experienced peers? What happened to stability, continuity, seniority rights and job security?
True, new teachers cost less money and are more easily controlled by their administrators, but are they as effective, in general, at educating children? Teaching is an art, not a science, and it takes years to develop effective classroom teaching skills, to advance from novice to master.
Also true that these ATRs are being paid full salary and benefits for now. But do you think the DOE will want to keep them on in the future, when they've saved so much money replacing them with less-expensive teachers?
Would the police union or firefighters union permit such a debacle in their ranks? Absolutely not! They know how to unite in militancy. And, they could rightly claim that the citizens would be ill-served by such a move. Are the citizens and their school-age children being well-served by this recent move? ACT! sincerely doubts it.
This is why we are supporing Kit Wainer and the joint ICE/TJC slate in the UFT elections this spring. We need a militant leadership to negotiate a fair contract for us next year!
Why not ACT! Out? Check out our job security email campaign in ACT! Out .
It came as no surprise to ACT! that Governor Pataki vetoed the 55/25 legislation on July 19. The measure would have allowed city teachers and other non-uniformed public employees to retire with full pensions at age 55 if they had 25 years of service. This bill was limited to this year and next year.
Achieving permanent 55/25 was a major Unity selling point in our recent contract. Thus far this has proven to be an empty promise. ACT! believes this further weakens the credibility of our union's leadership. What do you think?
Why not ACT! Out? Check out our 55/25 email campaign in ACT! Out .
The UFT, along with other public employee unions, spent a great deal of time, money and effort lobbying Albany to reform the much-detested Taylor Act. In the final hours of the legislative session in June lawmakers passed the amendment, which forces public employers to bargain in good faith, or be subject to specific penalties payable to the workers. Fines, such as the horrific $2.5 million assessed against the Transit Workers Union for their three day strike in December, would be reduced if management is found not to have bargained in good faith.
Such a level playing field would be a unionist's dream. There's just one hitch. Governor Pataki must approve the measure before it becomes law. Considering his recent posturings to seek the Republican nomination for president, the smart money says he'll veto this important legislation.
Even the Unity-dominated UFT.org
expressed its doubts in a recent article:
Pataki has exercised his veto more
frequently as he becomes a lame duck with his sights set on the
Republican nomination for president.
If by some miracle Pataki actually signs this amendment into law, the UFT's negotiating committee should immediately adopt the No Givebacks resolution proposed by UFT presidential contender, Kit Wainer. This resolution was defeated by the Unity-dominated delegate assembly last May.
If Pataki vetoes the measure, as is likely, ACT! believes that Kit, as the head of the ICE/TJC joint slate, should continue to promote a No Givebacks stance. In addition, ACT! agrees with the UTP that the negotiating committee should attempt to Get Back some of the time and protections that were traded away so cheaply in the last contract.