tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post1371347488066137946..comments2024-03-14T13:50:26.981-04:00Comments on Chaz's School Daze: My Predictions For The Year Ahead.Chazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09964739497720364749noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-81417221430119651992016-01-04T15:55:20.681-05:002016-01-04T15:55:20.681-05:00Chaz,
I am confused by your remarks about New Act...Chaz,<br /><br />I am confused by your remarks about New Action. <br /><a href="http://newaction.org/2015/10/12/new-action-2015-2016-priority-issues/" rel="nofollow">We have three priority issues for this year</a>:<br />Abusive Administrators – Identify them, retrain them, work to remove them<br />Teacher Evaluation – mitigate the effects, seek to repeal the State law tying ratings to test scores<br />Probationers and ATRs – protect vulnerable members from arbitrary and vindictive administrators<br /><br />Jonathan<br /><br />Jonathanhttp://jd2718.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-4330071836936826342016-01-04T12:46:49.306-05:002016-01-04T12:46:49.306-05:00To 4:47
Totally agree with you. This seems to be...To 4:47<br /><br />Totally agree with you. This seems to be the norm in alot of schools. Or if they are in a ok school, they are just doing what they have to do and not make waves (hey it's not me, mentality). But what I do find rather interesting is that some chapter leaders do not let others know about the other caucuses, they just think its unity, and that's the real shame.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-20685358308208144002016-01-03T16:47:46.159-05:002016-01-03T16:47:46.159-05:00I am literally the only teacher at my elementary s...I am literally the only teacher at my elementary school who knows anything about the various caucuses in the UFT. The majority of teachers that I work with are young and out of touch. Most of them voted yes to the last contract simply for the thousand dollar signing bonus. These teachers will not even be bothered to vote in the election as they do not care. I have tried to get them involved but to no avail. Apathy is what is killing us all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-48081575596234105262016-01-03T16:03:39.659-05:002016-01-03T16:03:39.659-05:00Happy New Year to all ATRs, especially to Chaz, Ja...Happy New Year to all ATRs, especially to Chaz, James Eterno, and the Bronx ATR for telling our situation like it is. I read their blogs and their comments on other blogs often.<br /><br />I'm a Brooklyn ATR currently assigned to a school outside my home district since late November on a rotational basis. I heard from a fellow ATR at my current school that rotating ATRs will remain at their current schools till the end of January (more than 4 weeks for me..I thought that was the limit). This person said it had to with payroll issues. <br /><br />I'm not surprised that the current ATR arrangements will be extended. There was no input from ATRS in regards to the 2011 MOA that started the rotational assignments and observations by field supervisors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-55746662827127517052016-01-03T11:58:56.657-05:002016-01-03T11:58:56.657-05:00ATR'S are slowly going to be canned. That is t...ATR'S are slowly going to be canned. That is the goal!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-60435522171359706442016-01-03T10:51:27.629-05:002016-01-03T10:51:27.629-05:00To 9:06,
So pay $1200 a year for a yearly eye exam...To 9:06,<br />So pay $1200 a year for a yearly eye exam, Groucho Marx glasses and yearly teeth cleaning? Fragmented splinter groups - those are all groups, statistically, who aren't Unity. I'll continue to pay my union dues for the continuation of our profession and the middle class. Bronx ATRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08787717237141454628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-39395745653626553682016-01-03T09:59:28.494-05:002016-01-03T09:59:28.494-05:009:06,
They handle it, the city supplies it. If th...9:06, <br />They handle it, the city supplies it. If the SC rules against the unions, the city still has to supply it. Heck the UFT Welfare fund may still have to supply to those who opted out!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-16018415271833502732016-01-03T09:06:44.557-05:002016-01-03T09:06:44.557-05:00I used to tell social studies teachers that if the...I used to tell social studies teachers that if they wanted an example of a soviet style government all they needed to do was look at the structure of the UFT! The DA is nothing but a rubber stamp.<br /><br />By the way, BronxATR mentions that the city supplies health care; this is true. But what does the UFT Welfare fund handle? Let's see: dental,eyeglasses and prescriptions.<br /><br />What will hurt getting seats in the next election are the fragmented splinter groups. retired teachernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-80104369512796854492016-01-02T19:38:44.275-05:002016-01-02T19:38:44.275-05:00I understand. With so many schools spread across t...I understand. With so many schools spread across the entire city. It's tough to call. It's there though. From many ATRs on rotation to our chapter leaders and delegates. There is no group out there like us. From fighting workplace bullying to paperwork reduction. From assisting with special education complaints to helping chapter leader's build a stronger chapter. <br /><br />Solidarity Toolbox www.uftsolidarity.org/toolbox I would love to see other caucuses have initiatives like this. <br /><br /><br /><br />Francesco Porteloshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03249197982072281997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-38768189608409679142016-01-02T19:34:18.615-05:002016-01-02T19:34:18.615-05:0012:56:
I was told by a high union official that t...12:56:<br /><br />I was told by a high union official that they're satisfied on how the ATR agreement is working and will extend it to the end of the contract.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-42255082495783756142016-01-02T19:28:04.427-05:002016-01-02T19:28:04.427-05:00Francesco:
It's not that I am underestimating...Francesco:<br /><br />It's not that I am underestimating the Solidarity caucus, I just don't have a feel for the support for your caucus at this time. Chazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09964739497720364749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-13675638659385496492016-01-02T19:08:00.847-05:002016-01-02T19:08:00.847-05:00It's unfortunate that UFT Solidarity's ext...It's unfortunate that UFT Solidarity's extensive work and outreach is underestimated. There will be surprises come election day. Francesco Porteloshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03249197982072281997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-34646494264367642942016-01-02T13:48:43.692-05:002016-01-02T13:48:43.692-05:00Retired teacher:
Don't only blame the elem sch...Retired teacher:<br />Don't only blame the elem school teachers. The middle schools voted Unity in every election except 1991. <br />Functionals - about 40,000 non-teachers also vote overwhelmingly for Unity.<br />Only the high schools have voted against Unity- and then only by slim margins.<br />And then there are the retirees - 90% for Unity.<br />So even if the elem school teachers - where I agree some headway must be made to begin to crack Unity - voted for the opposition, Unity would remain in control.<br />Only 11 ex bd seats are elementary and if you add the 5 middle schools and 7 high school seats that only comes to 23 ex bd seats out of 100.<br />That is why putting too much emphasis on UFT elections without other organizing efforts is a dead end - and a fatal flaw of opposition parties since the early 70s.<br />It is these numbers and Unity control which has led people to look for alternatives and even if wrongheaded people do see Friedrichs as a way to force a break in Unity control.<br />Instead of liberalizing the rules to make the union a more democratizing space - ie - more alternate views at the top and middle levels - Unity like any dictatorship doubles down by increasing the retiree vote.<br />If we look into the spaces that might be created by a decision against the unions, we can not tell exactly what might occur.<br />If the union offers some value in membership people might stay.<br />Value means a voice - and my guess is that Unity would rather have the unhappy people leave which would tighten their control of whatever is left. They would rather be in charge of a weaker UFT than have to really contend for power in a stronger but democratized UFT.<br />ed notes onlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15018047869059226777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-56509348622770106272016-01-02T11:52:18.101-05:002016-01-02T11:52:18.101-05:00Norm - absolutely correct. The Taylor law penaltie...Norm - absolutely correct. The Taylor law penalties were threefold. The first was loss of check off. The second was every striker became a Taylor Law probationary teacher for a year. The third penalty was a two for one penalty. If you struck for five days the city could withhold ten days pay.<br /> I believe that the law has been somewhat modified over the years but it still has stiff penalties.<br /> I am the first to admit that the UFT has lost the ball in recent years - bad decisions and inaction have hurt the rank and file. Would you really want no union? Can you imagine what would happen? In the days before the UFT there were no prep periods and no duty free lunch. Teachers ate with their students - a charming thought.<br /> Voting to get candidates not in the Unity Caucus is a start. However, being a former caucus member I can tell you that Mulgrew will get elected. Why? Because the elementary teachers usually decide the election because they are the biggest voting bloc and Unity gets out the elementary school vote.retired teachernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-39915385218099202932016-01-01T19:29:20.891-05:002016-01-01T19:29:20.891-05:00The loss of dues checkoff in the early 80s was as ...The loss of dues checkoff in the early 80s was as a result of the 1975 Taylor Law Strike penalties.<br />check these links for background:<br />http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/515/871/1962369/<br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/20/nyregion/state-labor-panel-restores-uft-dues-checkoff-right.htmled notes onlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15018047869059226777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-76199627229451707482016-01-01T16:18:43.649-05:002016-01-01T16:18:43.649-05:003:30,
Why would you think that? Please explain.3:30,<br />Why would you think that? Please explain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-16390136012805010902016-01-01T16:09:56.719-05:002016-01-01T16:09:56.719-05:00Nope, city pays for health care. Dues pay for lobs...Nope, city pays for health care. Dues pay for lobster and steaks. The Bronx UFT puts all grievances at the bottom of the pile (and that's where they stay). Those shouldn't be the reasons one decides to pay dues. Do so for legitimate reasons.Bronx ATRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08787717237141454628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-82815252019673328702016-01-01T15:30:48.964-05:002016-01-01T15:30:48.964-05:00Now I actually think the atr. Situation goes back ...Now I actually think the atr. Situation goes back to yearly<br />With incentives to hire Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-5811808673556594302016-01-01T14:39:10.055-05:002016-01-01T14:39:10.055-05:00Back in the recesses of my chalk dust damaged brai...Back in the recesses of my chalk dust damaged brain I recall a time when the UFT lost check off. (Captain Kirk once lost Chekov, but that's another story.) I believe it was the mid eighties. Anyway, the chapter leaders were tasked with collecting checks and forwarding them to the coffers of the UFT.<br /> There were people who didn't pay. One person in particular came up with a whopper of a grievance. Unfortunately, her grievance somehow wound up at the bottom of a pile of paperwork at Bronx UFT and she had to wait a good bit of time before the union contacted.<br /> Teachers who need eyeglasses, dental work or medicines will lose those services if the UFT loses check off and teachers don't pay.<br /><br />Happy New Yearretired teachernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-85391448863562491692016-01-01T13:48:48.065-05:002016-01-01T13:48:48.065-05:00So his assertion that we don't need a chapter ...So his assertion that we don't need a chapter because the ATR situation is temporary is more bullshit? Of course. Many ATRs and teachers will pull that lobster tail out of is manicured hands if given the opportunity. He has no one to blame but himself. He's a disgrace as a UFT president. I'm going to one of those BS DA meetings and tell him so to his face.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-23057463905244833362016-01-01T13:00:59.529-05:002016-01-01T13:00:59.529-05:00Behind closed doors like usual without input from ...Behind closed doors like usual without input from the members affected, the ATRs. Of course the UFT will deny it but its a done deal.Chazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09964739497720364749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-35859854630678355572016-01-01T12:56:17.508-05:002016-01-01T12:56:17.508-05:00When did that occur?
I didn't recall reading t...When did that occur?<br />I didn't recall reading that?<br />What were the deat ails?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-64619872376652932722016-01-01T12:05:06.962-05:002016-01-01T12:05:06.962-05:00Where was that said? the ATR monthly rotation...A...Where was that said? the ATR monthly rotation...Actually I prefer the more rotations, it doesnt force us to stay in a shithole for long. Prefer weekly, then monthly over yearly. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-44111662520571031622016-01-01T12:02:26.296-05:002016-01-01T12:02:26.296-05:00How does NAC MORE win anything with your friend, w...How does NAC MORE win anything with your friend, what's his name, running a separate opposition slate? The leader will take enough votes away fom NAC and MORE to give the usual complete win to Unity. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20674128.post-88452211534493473782016-01-01T12:00:31.477-05:002016-01-01T12:00:31.477-05:00Ah a whole mew year, flush with endless possibilit...Ah a whole mew year, flush with endless possibilities. I for one vow to improve myself in 2016m Here then are my top ten ATR resolutions :<br />10. Remember to bring an empty 24 oz Snapple bottle<br />9. Stop telling people "Im dusting off my resume and getting a job in the 'burbs'"<br />8. AM New York IS a real newspaper,heck the SSA's think so,Im reading it, cover to gloriously living color cover<br />7 Stop trying to tell the newbies MTV started out playing real music <br />6. Get a bigger wallet<br />5. Stop trying to evade security cameras by wearing a hat and hoodie<br />4.No more signing out for 'lunch ' when I know im going to the car for a nap<br />3. Simcas Torah is not a holiday for me! (or the other one with the thing on the fire escapes) <br />2. Stop calling Danielson "Charlettes Web'<br />1 World War Z is not educational! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com