VOTING FOR YOUR UFT REPS: WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR

Every three years, UFT members have the opportunity to vote for the Chapter Leader (CL) and delegates of their respective schools. It is easy to vote for a friendly colleague or to simply go along with the majority, but basing your vote on shallow virtues without putting real thought into your selection can prove costly to you and every other UFT member at your school. The upcoming chapter elections must be taken seriously. The people you elect will be representing you for the next three years. In order to try to help make your decision a little bit easier, here is a list of criteria and questions you should consider when deciding between potential nominees…

Trust, Confidence, and Reliability

These three are so interconnected that they constitute one category. If someone is reliable, you tend to place your trust and confidence in them. Your trust and confidence must be earned in all walks of life, We thrust those lofty traits on people who we find to be reliable. When it comes to union leadership, trust, confidence, and reliability are paramount when deciding who should represent you and your colleagues with admin and the UFT. Look at the nominees. Do any of them have a track record of throwing people under the bus? Do you trust their judgment? Who are you most confident in when it comes to speaking to admin on your behalf and having your best interests at heart? When push comes to shove, who would you feel most comfortable relying on if you were in a serious predicament? Are any of the candidates completely untrustworthy and/or unreliable? Voting for someone who is not reliable just because you feel you owe them some type of loyalty due to your relationship with them or because they have served a long time in office will do nothing to help your situation. Your vote is private. Go with the person/people who you think is most reliable.

Teamwork/Communication

Teamwork and communication should be considered MANDATORY qualifications for CLs and delegates. Does your current CL run things like a dictator? Are they open to hearing thoughts and opinions from their committee and constituents, or do they get upset and power hungry when others try to help and express their viewpoints? These same questions go for any prospective candidates running for CL and/or delegate positions, as well. 

Being an effective communicator is a highly important skill that must not be overlooked. Union reps who do the bare minimum are a detriment to you and your entire school. Look at the candidates’ history. Do they routinely call union meetings? Do they ask you for your input? If they have been in office for a while, have they consistently made an effort to open lines of communication, or are they just now putting on a show because they know elections are coming up? Are there potential candidates who you think can do better in these areas? If so, it may be time for a change.

Temperament

Everyone has different opinions when it comes down to how they believe union leadership should carry themselves. One thing leadership absolutely needs is some backbone. This doesn’t mean that they flip out during every conversation and disagreement – nobody takes those people seriously and constant fighting and bickering can cause a perpetual feeling of animosity and anger throughout the school. However, having a pushover who is always willing to acquiesce to admin is not the way to go either. A potential CL or delegate may act tough when speaking to their fellow UFT members, but can/do they do the same when admin is around? Don’t be fooled by a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Ideally, your UFT reps will be even-keeled, willing to stand firm when the time is right, but also able to consider all possibilities, potential outcomes, and consequences.

Knowledge

This one is fairly self-explanatory. Which candidate(s) are most knowledgeable? Which candidate(s) are willing to share that knowledge with others? Which candidate(s) do you feel most comfortable going to when you have questions? Which candidate(s) know your rights inside and out? Knowledge is contagious. The more we know about our rights and freedoms, the better equipped we are at handling dicey situations with overreaching admin. It is not only important that your representatives are knowledgeable; they must also be responsible for keeping their fellow UFT members well-informed.

Respect

Respect is a two-way street. Which candidate(s) do you respect the most? Which candidate(s) respect their colleagues the most? If you elect a CL and/or delegates who do not respect their fellow UFT members, then you are asking for three years of divisiveness and frustration. A disrespectful CL or delegate will disregard your thoughts and concerns in favor of their own. Choosing people who act this way will put you and your colleagues at a significant disadvantage, as you will be fighting battles on two fronts. You do not want to have to go to war with your union reps when you need them to support you in any potential disagreement/grievance with admin.

Track Record

This one is easier to gauge for incumbent nominees seeking reelection. Look at their body of work over their tenure as CL or delegate. Have they done right by you and your colleagues? Do they support educators when battling injustice, or do they try to dissuade you from fighting? Do they keep you well-informed? Do they consistently bring in experts to talk to the staff about important things, like our rights, pension, certification, tenure, etc., or have they only done so once in a while? Do they unify the UFT members at your school, or is there fractioning and division amongst members? Are they trying harder this year because it’s an election year, or have they been putting in the work, day after day, over the course of their time in office? 

As for newer candidates who may be running, these questions are tougher to answer. However, at this point you hopefully know them well enough to make your own judgment on whether or not they would be better at doing these things than your current representatives.

Passion

This may seem like a ridiculous thing to consider since you would assume that anyone running for CL or delegate would naturally be passionate, but sometimes people take their position(s) for granted after a while. Anyone lacking the fire to go to bat for you with everything they’ve got when/if the time comes can be a detriment to you and your colleagues. Choosing flippant leaders who downplay your worries and concerns to represent your school is a danger to everyone. 

There are a lot of elements to consider, but deep down, most of these answers should come to you quickly. You are not obligated to vote for anyone, whether it be a friend or someone that has been in office so long that you may be afraid to try something new, even when the current situation isn’t working for you. Vote for who you think will do the best job for you and your colleagues. It is perfectly fine to get along with someone and vote against them if you believe there is a better candidate. If you are not fond of your options, do not abstain from voting. Talk to the candidates, or simply choose the lesser of two evils. This is the person who will be your first line of defense should you ever be in need. You can change things – for better or for worse – with just one vote.

David Ginsberg is a pro-union advocate who believes UFT members deserve better.