Archive for March 29th, 2013

New Action at the UFT Exec Board 2011- 2012

SOME ISSUES TAKEN UP BY OUR

NEW ACTION/UFT EXEC BOARD MEMBERS

Part II  2011 – 2012

 September 2011

New Action meets at Columbus HS to plan action against Principal John Chase who is charged with sexual harassment.
New Action wins support to publicize the struggle of Local 372 of District Council 37 members
New Action initiates resolution to Support President Obama’s Job Bill

October 2011

New Action exposes hiring of K -2 testing director at DOE
New Action introduces Dignity for All Teachers resolution which wins bipartisan support. Calls on Chapter Leaders to be proactive in defense of members’ rights.

November 2011

New Action presses the issue of Mandated Relief at November 21 UFT Executive Board meeting
New Action raises the fact that principals are hiding vacancies thereby keeping ATRs from filling positions

December 2011

New Action co-chairs, Jonathan Halabi and Michael Shulman, speak against the proposed UFT Constitutional changes

January 2012

New Action mobilizes for demonstration at Bronxdale HS in the Columbus Campus against abusive Principal John Chase.
At the Delegate Assembly, Mike Shulman opposes UFT Constitutional  changes. Calls for broader discussion of union democracy.
New Action calls for the restoration of lab specialist positions in every high school.  Asks to end policy of “giving away” or warehousing lab equipment.
New Action says we must end Mayoral control. Asks for strategy to end the fraudulent PEP panels.
New Action questions the Bloomberg policy of closing 33 new schools.
New Action Initiates A New York State United Teachers resolution in support of the New York State Dream Act. This could impact 300,000 youth to secure student loans grants and scholarships.

March 2012

New Action criticizes the DOE for breaking the “No Lay-off” agreement that ATRs must be placed in long term vacancies.
New Action introduces a resolution “Justice for Trayvon Martin” that condemns the murder of young Trayvon and calls for the prosecution of his killer.
New Action questions DOE policy of not placing ATRs in long time vacancies

April 2012

New Action initiates “End Mayoral Control of Education” petition.
June 1 the UFT announces they will reconvene committee to examine UFT position on mayoral control.
New Action introduces a resolution to oppose the Mayor’s NYPD policy of “Stop and Frisk.” This leads to UFT participation in massive NYC Demonstration.

May 2012

New Action is credited with bringing new DOE policy to “flag” names of UFT members who have been called in for disciplinary hearings. UFT files intent to sue
New Action’s call to make June 5 a “Day of Solidarity” for actions at schools is approved.

June 2012

Over 100 schools participate on June 5 for “Day of Solidarity.”

Advertisement

New Action targeted by rival caucus

We note that New Action has recently become the subject of negative campaigning by a MORE.

New Action is an independent caucus, supporting Michael Mulgrew in this election. MORE’s campaigning seeks to treat New Action as part of Unity. We note in particular their second campaign video, their Vice President Educational Issues’ motion at the March Delegate Assembly, on their blog, and their print advertisement in the election issue of the New York Teacher.

We weren’t really expecting this, but it’s not a great surprise, either. Back in October, Kit Wainer, a former leader of TJC currently representing MORE, indicated that MORE had no intention of attacking New Action during the campaign. “MORE will attack Unity.”

However, MORE’s stable of bloggers routinely attack us (Kit claimed no control over them, and professed not to read them. When asked if allowing the attacks and not disassociating their caucus from them looked like tacit endorsement, Kit did not respond.)

MORE is allowed to campaign as they see fit. We do not know why they changed their minds and decided they needed to attack New Action directly. But this is certainly within their rights.

— — — — — — —

MORE was formed last year. It reassembles at least pieces of ICE, GEM, and TJC, perhaps remnants of other groups.

— — — — — — —

New Action’s campaign focuses on:
New Action
Independent – Progressive – Influential
New Action is the only UFT caucus that
supports the leadership when they are right
and opposes them when they are wrong.
Vote New Action!

Those few words above, they are the heart of New Action’s election campaign. Our literature fleshes out details.


Content Policy

Content of signed articles and comments represents the opinions of their authors. The views expressed in signed articles are not necessarily the views of New Action/UFT.
March 2013
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031