On Contract and Democracy – UFT Executive Board Minutes, 6-5-2023

Summary/Analysis:

• It’s unclear how things are going on contract. The 37.5 strategy has clear problems, as I pointed out yesterday. Ilona Nanay also noted that CSA appears to actually want 37.5, rendering the strategy ineffective. When she brought up other tactics, Amy Arundell gave a speech about how we’re not strike ready. I agree, but I specifically blame the Unity-led leadership for that – who have completely thrown strike readiness to the wayside and gone so far as publicly trying to convince UFT members that teachers in NYC should not push to have the right to strike. On the other hand, the contract may be ready for a DA vote as early as next week, which is why the DA is now being rescheduled. Unfortunately, this now means we probably aren’t going to have full turnout. Either the DA will fall on Monday/Tuesday (extended day) or Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday (regents afternoon/evening shift proctoring for high school teachers). If the DA is on a Regents day, that will notably mean high school teachers will be disproportionately affected. Since high school teachers are statistically more likely to be opposition, that would make it easier for Unity to get an undeserved yes vote. I stood up for high school teachers being able to attend, after which Mulgrew got quite testy with me, but let’s hope they receive the message. Ronnie Almonte also pointed out that we need time to review the contract before voting, but Mike Sill did not give us an answer on how much time we’ll get. Frankly, even if we got it this week, that wouldn’t be enough time for a DA next week.
• The DA ‘hybrid’ model was approved for a DA vote. I tried to amend so that folks over the phone could also offer amendments or motivate resos. My reasons were simple: more people attend over the phone than in person, and it’s unfair that ‘life’ should keep those who can only participate on the phone from meaningfully impacting union policy. What was left unsaid, but which is realistically why Unity voted it down, is that people over the phone are more likely to vote with the opposition. Indeed, while there are many who prefer to go to the DA in person, most of those who do so regularly are UFT employees (i.e. Unity) with voting privileges rather than rank-and-file teachers. There are exceptions—such as myself—but the vote breakdowns don’t lie: in person is predominately Unity, over-the-phone is predominately not. And that, I gather, is why Unity doesn’t want to give everyone else full democratic access.
• For the full informal minutes, see below.

Informal Notes Follow

Mike Sill: filling in for LeRoy Bar.

Open Mic

Karen Miller: 2^nd grade ICT gen-ed teacher at PS15 in D1. June, with everything going on wanted to reflect and share on some of the successes that go on in the classroom, and things that have been great at least in my room. Thought about this and what stands out. One thing is 12/16 of my class made over a year’s growth in reading – a testament to being able to close door, teach in way that works, comes with being able to do what supposed to do. Second success: February received 21 asylum children – 4 in my class. I don’t speak Spanish, so from April 5 to Memoria day, kids weren’t getting serviced, but went to my principal and she gave me a device, when I speak into it, it translates right away. Works in reverse too. Now my children are interacting with one another. It’s called a Pocket Talk. You can set it to any language. Kids love it. We only have one now, and am sure it’s costly, but think it’s to be noted that the children really love it. Doesn’t work as well for reading/writing lessons, but does in math, social studies, and other subjects – where they can feel engaged.

All minutes approved.

Reports:

Mike Sill: 5k run in Coney Island, fun day for families.

Deshana Barker: UFT Family Day at global sports complex in garden city. We’re at capacity. All about union comradery and fun.

Mindy Rosier: Save the date on June 14^th, Park Slope bar where there will be discounts, plenty of fun.

Pat Christino: Expanding GED program for NYHA housing in a complex in Brooklyn. Hope this happens elsewhere in NY. JZ got his GED, as did his wife. Email me if you don’t have a GED program.

President’s Report:

Couple things going on. Thanks everyone on Contract Action Teams for doing the work last night and today. DOE sent out a calendar that we don’t agree with and didn’t approve. So now back to 37.5. That’s it – might change, might not. Contract negotiations are getting difficult and hostile. That’s what it will take. I have to go right back upstairs. This thing is either blowing up or getting done. If it blows up, we need a summer plan and school year. DA scheduled for Wednesday, don’t believe we’ll know if it’s getting up by Wednesday. So not sure it’s a good idea to have DA on Wednesday if we’re probably going to have to bring them in next week. So, rescheduling most likely.

Nick Bacon: High school teachers may have trouble getting there because of afternoon regents scheduling if you do this Wednesday or after, so can we avoid that?

Mulgrew: happy to take a question, as long as you don’t misquote me, though you probably will anyways. Thanks for point of information. Will try. If this blows up we may even have to have a DA as late as this summer.

Haven’t had a chance to read all the speculation yet, went to a play. Shulman was there, but a different show. I was at a The Show that Goes Wrong.

If we have to move a DA we will need an emergency executive board in advance as well.

Questions:

Ronnie Almonte: 2 1/2 questions.

• How much time at minimum are delegates going to have before voting on tentative agreement?
• In a PROSE school. Is the SBO process frozen for Prose or Prose modifications due to this tactic that’s being pursued?
• Half question: at rally and were out of my size for teachers, so I need a size L, can I be hooked up. (laughter).

Sill: Usually, only have L or XL. Can order. Amount of time at a minimum – there’s gotta be some calculus, we don’t know when it’s gonna get done. There’s gotta be a date when it’s too late. I don’t know if I could state a minimum, but no one is interested in delegates not having enough time. Can’t give estimate on when we might be done, but it’s full steam ahead.

Prose schools – look. We’re in a moment right now when I don’t think what we wanna start to signal that there are these following ways to get around the predicament that the DOE has placed us in.

Sally-Ann: PROSE schools right now, what you have you have, but until this is resolved – no voting. What’s on your ballot is your ballot.

Ibeth Mejia: New lawsuit on Medicare. Will this affect negotiations on in-service healthcare?

Joe Usatch: Negotiation process is still going on, regardless of that lawsuit.

Ilona Nanay: Been speaking to members across the city, and a lot of them and principals are excited about reverting back to 37 ½. Appreciate this as a push back against the DOE, but are there other things we are thinking about? Mulgrew mentioned shutting things down? Are we working towards strike preparedness?

Mike Sill: Speaking as myself – others may disagree. Can’t imagine we’d entertain a strike between now and the end of the school year. That would be more for September if that were to happen. We will do an analysis of all kinds. At the moment, all the efforts are to get a fair, just contract that honors people’s time, reflecting everything that came out of the 500 member negotiating committee.

Amy Arundell: Add to this discussion around strike – there’s an organizing tool called a structure test around how organized is a group of people. I think that going from 0 to 1,000, for the City of NY, is not a romantic notion. It’s a serious act to take -not that we shouldn’t take it. But, there are many many millions of people who would be impacted by a strike by teachers. We have engaged in many different types of mobilization, and from my vantage point, I don’t see a demand for a strike from our members. That’s because we have a lot of work to do to prepare people for a strike – and the other place is with the community. So it would be reckless to say here at the executive board that we’re preparing for a strike. With the calendar, everyone is mad – us, parents, religious communities. But that tells me that we have to do work to build a coalition. So we’d have to have the community behind us. We know what happens in the City of New York. Look at what we are doing instead of what people believe we are not doing. Because in my experience as an organizer, we’ve been engaging our members in a different way to raise the stakes. We would not be where we are today if it were not for our actions – that’s why we had 3,000+ people who wanted to get on a Zoom CAT meeting. This is not 1900, it’s 2023, and a lot has happened in this century. Just saying – it’s true that we’re mobilizing, and would like to see more support of our actions from our union as a whole instead of what I see at nitpicking.

Alex Jallot: Was on the CAT yesterday and I was impressed at how many people tried to get in—I’m getting to the question—impressed with how energized are, including many of my chapter members who were livid about the calendar, but I’m holding a chapter meeting this week, and they want to know if we’re close or are we not.

Mike Sill: Fair question, but with utmost sincerity, I don’t know. I think we ought to be, but if they try to pull more stuff like on Friday, that’s another story. Think you can look at things like DA being rescheduled, but we aren’t gonna settle.

Janella Hinds: Pressure that we’re all bringing through emergency consultation meetings that are happening today, tomorrow, Wednesday – heard about picket lines, calling Mayor, etc – the actions being taken are impacting what’s happening. We are all pushing to make this happen. Ronnie mentioned time to absorb – we wanna make sure that is happening. People are not chilling/relaxing. This is serious business – we didn’t reschedule last month. Not operating in good faith required that response. DOE violated an agreement and that required a response – so we’re responding and will continue in our schools to respond, make our voices, and make our voices heard.

Mike Sill: Amy says a lot of people angry about the calendar – I bet I’m number 1. Even the way they went about doing something shady is shady. There are times we work more than 180 days, but there are not days when we do and some days that we’re working that traditionally are. They did that with that express knowledge on purpose – and we need to smack the for that.

Reports from Districts:

Name missed: gathering paraprofessionals at a hospital to focus on self care.

Nancy Armando: Brooklyn rally that we had a few weeks ago, great turnout. We ran out of shirts as Ronnie mentioned. Across all the boroughs. Council members. Celebrate how many people came out across the rallies.

Ashley R. / Adam S.: Met game last week, first of Brooklyn Queens event, well attended. Michael Mulgrew through the first pitch.

Janella Hinds: Today, we welcomed a group of students in the next generation of educators club at Curtis High School. They want to become educators. Young people were inspirational today. Thanks many.

Shawn Rockowitz: Our rally on the boardwalk, signed up 125 people that day – well over 300. Supported by SI Democrats and many labor groups. Also PS46 is under siege by a principal, who was reassigned several weeks, and an IA principal was put in today.

Danny Rodriguez: Rally in Bronx – we also ran out of T-shirts. Big showing, some politicians came, including Vanessa Gibbons, Robert Jackson, and Councilman Salamanca. Had fun. A lot of the public drove by and honked for support, including train conductors.

Lamar Hughes: D25 – Queens Rally. As with other rallies, great turnout. District 37 reps came. Had reps from Queens Borough President office. When we thought we were done, people stayed. Moments of solidarity do matter. Personal point of privilege: moment of silence for member who passed away, founding member. In working with Leo he was engaging, sweet gentleman, first D rep in D25, and we both taught in PS201.

Victoria Lee: May 25^th had our AAPI Heritage Month celebration month – great turnout. Panel discussion, number of topics, networking opportunities, next generation. Awarded two students who shared their stories. Closed with opportunity to meet UFT representatives. Hope you’ll come out and support our next event. Thanks staff.

Faiza Khalid: D5 have big event coming up – first book event, Saturday June 17^th, share out. We need volunteers for 16^th and 17^th. Let us know if you can – giving out books in Harlem.

Mary Vacarro: Excited to have 170+ members on SEL workshops for new reading curriculum. We will make it simple. Mind Up is now DOE/UFT collaborative, so we can get it free into your school. Important to understand that it’s free. Piloting at one high school in each borough. Excited about energy in room that day. Will do that a few more times if interested let me know.

Seung Lee: Last week, further AAPI curriculum in schools announced, initiated by SEIU. Teacher Center was there and others.

Mike Sill: Speaking of Vacarro, she shut down notion of doing PD at a clerical day.

Legislative Report:

Liz Perez: Stated meetings at City Council – making sure budget gets passed, especially education. Mobile phone bank trainings available. Primary election day is on June 27th, with early voting from the 17^th to Sunday the 25^th. Go out and vote.

Special Orders of Business:

Resolution to continue Hybrid DA rules: Thanks to Joe Diodato, who wrote his own minutes today and captured some of what was said when I was busy speaking. Some of the text below is quoted from him.

Amy Arundell: support. High levels of engagement.

Nick Bacon: motion to amend: Be it resolved that delegates on the phone will also be allowed to raise resolutions and amendments.

Nick Bacon: Motion to amend. Goes at the end.  “Resolved, delegates on the phone will also be allowed to raise resolutions and amendments”.  Motivation: more and more people (esp. In outer boroughs, have family at home) are unable to come in person. They can’t raise important business. To increase democracy in the union we give people a chance to participate. 

Rashad Brown: We should table indefinitely until we have a committee to look into it.  We’re all connected to somebody, if I can’t make it there’s someone else who can.  

Sill: Personal privilege as chair. Not sure it’s in Robert’s Rules to table an amendment. Not being certain, would prefer to err on side of caution and proceed with debate on motion.

Anthony Harmon: Rise to speak against the amendment. In-person DAs we tell folks that amendments have to be concise. We don’t know who the person is on the other end of the phone. I would ask that the body vote the amendment down and go with the original resolution as presented.   

Undrea Polite: Rise in opposition. If something is important enough to make a resolution, you should be able to come [and motivate/present it]. I have made time despite having sick parents and other circumstances. If it’s important enough for you to write the resolution, it’s important enough for you to come down here and support it.

Sean Rotkowitz: We’ve found a good balance with the new hybrid. Coming out of the pandemic, motions should literally be brought to the floor. Value in doing union business in the union hall.

Deshanna Barker: Truly believe that we’ve gone through a lot this year. Trust has been broken. Who is to say what’s happening on the back end when folks are at home making motions. Members aren’t always able to make it. But if members want to raise a reso or make amendment, we have to be able to meet members where they’re at. 

Faiza Khalid: appreciate the hybrid model, but prefer it to be in person, if there’s an issue that’s important to me. People can raise amendments if someone else speaks on our behalf. If it’s important to you, you should be in person.

Ilona Nanay: Rise in support of the amendment. Do so because we are extending the hybrid DA, because it does help engage delegates and chapter leaders who otherwise might not be able to engage beyond their school sites. There are also resolutions presented – and someone at home may have a strong amendment at home.

Pat Christino calls question, with a few UFC people in line.

Amendment fails, only UFC High School Executive Board votes yes. Motion itself passes unanimously.

Resolution to Combat Laws Targeting Transgender and non-binary people in Florida Through Educating the Public

Rashad Brown: Two laws that violate human rights, including transgender and non-binary people, contradicts documents we hold dear. A law cannot single out LGPTQ people, as it can’t to other groups. If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re on the menu. We had 315 last year, this year 540 attacks. There is censorship of school curriculum, so that people could understand. Teachers we need to change this law. If don’t have seat at the table, bring a folding chair.

Alex Jallot: Speaks in favor. As a high school teacher for about 10 years, this is near and dear to my heart, even though I’m a cisgendered male. Shocked at Florida, shocked at US. Think about my own students. Encourage everything to vote yes on this.

Passes unanimously.

Next exec board is next week, June 12^th.