30 Years Ago Today: Our Pension Funds and The Fight for Divestment
From the Frontlines #2 By Michael Shulman Thursday, January 9, 1986 was the first day I took office as the elected Vice President for Academic High Schools. Although I was elected in the spring of 1985, the Unity led UFT under the leadership of Albert Shanker refused to allow me to take my rightful
How Not to Fight the Friedrichs Case!
By Michael Shulman, Co-chair, New Action/UFT By now most union members have heard of the Friedrichs case before the US Supreme Court. The threat is real and in the hands of this conservative court it is almost a given that the justices will rule against all unions and eliminate dues check-off . The
Resolution on delinking testing from evaluation
New Action urges: delink teacher evaluation from test scores. Unity responds by not letting members vote. The following resolution was presented by Jonathan Halabi (New Action) at the Monday, January 11 UFT Executive Board meeting. A representative from Unity moved to table (could be for future cons
The Fight to Divest Pension Funds – in the 80s Apartheid, today Fossil Fuels
(from the New Action leaflet distributed at the November 2015 UFT Delegate Assembly). For a printable version click: November 2015 Leaflet back The Fight to Divest Pension Funds from Corporations Doing Business with The Republic of South Africa In 1984-85 one of the predecessors to New Action/UFT
Jia Lee Endorsed Unanimously by New Action/UFT
(from the New Action leaflet distributed at the November 2015 UFT Delegate Assembly). For a printable version click: Leaflet 2015 November The New Action Executive Board gave a resounding approval to the candidacy of Jia Lee, Chapter Leader of the Earth School for UFT President. Jia has been a lea
Renewal Schools – Some Questions
(from the New Action leaflet distributed at the October 2015 UFT Delegate Assembly). For a printable version click: Leaflet 2015 October This school year we have a new group of schools targeted for intervention. There are 94 Renewal Schools, mainly in poorer neighborhoods, chosen because of lower
Retroactive Pay and Fairness
(from the New Action leaflet distributed at the October 2015 UFT Delegate Assembly) In a disheartening turn, after unusually harsh commentary by a teacher who is employed by the union, the Unity leadership, followed by its caucus, voted en bloc against letting the delegates debate the issue. For a
AFT Rushes to a Presidential Endorsement
(from the New Action leaflet distributed at the October 2015 UFT Delegate Assembly). For a printable version click: Leaflet 2015 October On July 11, 2015, the AFT was the first national union to endorse the candidacy of Hillary Clinton. New Action believes UFT members want a presidential candidate
New Action Proposals and Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision for NYC Schools
(from the New Action leaflet distributed at the September 2015 UFT Citywide Chapter Leaders Meeting). For a printable version click: Leaflet 2015 September In his first day back to school remarks “Equity and Excellence” Major Bill de Blasio laid out two goals for our schools and school childre
Is it time to put large schools back together?
(from the New Action leaflet distributed at the June 2015 UFT Delegate Assembly). For a printable version click: June June 2015 Leaflet Front On June 1, 2015, New Action introduced a resolution (here) to consider the circumstances of campus high schools. In the last 15 years many of large high sc