Archive for the 'UFT' Category



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.”

New Action at the UFT Exec Board – this year

WHAT NEW ACTION/UFT HAS DONE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP SINCE 2010 -13

SOME ISSUES TAKEN UP BY OUR NEW ACTION/UFT EXEC BOARD MEMBERS

 Part III – September 2012 – March 2013

September 2012

New Action wins bipartisan support in solidarity with Chicago teachers

New Action introduces resolution to support President Obama for reelection

New Action calls for reconsideration of NYSUT recommendation to stay neutral in the Grimm/Murphy race on Staten Island

October 2012

New Action asks the UFT to join NAACP suit on selective school entrance exams

November 2012

New Action introduces resolution to oppose any cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid. Passes December DA

New Action questions why UFT space has been leased to King’s College

New Action calls for a list of worst principals who have issued U-ratings

New Action initiates bipartisan resolution in opposition to the “Grand  Compromise” proposed by Republicans

New Action introduces resolution to oppose any cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid. Passes December DA.

January 2013

New Action introduces resolution on gun violence. Passes unanimously.

New Action calls for list of schools with the highest U-ratings.

New Action blasts DOE for failure to recruit and hire teachers of color.

New Action calls for action to protect S.I chapter leader sent to the rubber room.

February 2013

New Actions calls for support for Seattle teachers who refused to administer standardized tests.

New Action calls on UFT to poll members regarding Democratic mayoral candidates.

March 2013

New Action calls for rejection of governance proposals, and for their resubmission as part of a package calling for the end of mayoral control

 

Why New Action opposes the recommendations to modify mayoral control

At Monday’s Executive Board the Committee on School Governance presented a set of School Governance Recommendations.

The committee worked hard on its recommendations. The individual proposals are positive.  But they are framed as modifications, as checks and balances on Mayoral Control.

One of the positive proposals deserves special mention. The UFT now stands for no waiver for the Chancellor. New Action’s David Kaufman made just such a proposal, well-reasoned, last time we had a governance report. And it was roundly, and wrongly, rejected. We wish that Dave were here today to see the union belatedly adopting his proposal.

New Action has opposed Mayoral Control. It has been a disaster for our schools, our students, our members. Last year we circulated petitions calling for an end of Mayoral Control. And we remain opposed to Mayoral Control. This year we declined to serve on the Governance Committee – the correct conclusion – ending Mayoral Control – was obvious.

Thus, at Monday’s Exec Board, we felt compelled to vote against otherwise positive recommendations, for not being part of an overall stance of ending Mayoral Control.

Our union, the UFT, should take the committee’s recommendations, and embed them in a proposal to end Mayoral Control. Then  New Action/UFT would proudly endorse them.

 


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