Why ARISE Stands out in the UFT Election
People who read this blog know that I strongly believe in ARISE and Olivia Swisher’s vision for the UFT. There are two other slates running against us (ABC and Unity). If ABC wins, there are undoubtedly some great unionists on that slate too, though as people know, I have serious concerns abou
A Better Contract? Don’t Get Your Hopes Up (By David Ginsberg)
It’s election season for the UFT and an upstart opposition caucus has sprung from nowhere to challenge Unity for control over our union. You would think this should bring many members, angered by years of Unity ineptitude, a reason to celebrate. Unfortunately, the opposition caucus in question, A
A Caucus Divided (by David Ginsberg)
Humans are social creatures. We feel the need to receive and reciprocate the love and support of others. This innate desire is a large reason why we join groups. When it comes to political factions, the most altruistic of us find people with similar ideologies and we join together in order to change
“Hands off Our Schools”: UFT Delegate Assembly Summary, Analysis, and Minutes 2/12/25
Summary/Analysis Unofficial Minutes follow. Thank you to another fellow NAC member who wrote them. Mulgrew – President’s Report Paraprofessional campaign: Significant increase in para representatives on school consultation teams. “Respect Check for Paras” Bill – Waiting for b
Out of the Shadows: NAC Statement On the UFT Election
Yesterday, after months of campaigning from the shadows of anonymity, the ABC slate has finally made its presidential candidate known: Amy Arundell, long-time Unity Caucus member and former Queens Borough representative, a UFT staffer who hasn’t worked full-time in the classroom in over 20 years.
UFT Executive Board – 2/10/2025
Summary: In an executive board meeting that was unusually eventful (in a good way), we heard two members (one NAC and one MORE) speak out in favor of universal healthcare, four members speak out about ways to help immigrant students, and the problems with pattern bargaining were discussed. These min
UFT Virtual Town Hall (2/6/25) – Unofficial Minutes
During tonight’s town hall, Mulgrew discussed potential extra pay for paraprofessionals, Trump’s initial weeks in office, and several other topics, including curriculum and class size. He updated members on the efforts to persuade the New York City Council to approve legislation that wou
ARISE-UFT Supports Providing Paraprofessionals with $10,000+ Permanently Recurring Annual Payments:
A Transparent Political Move by Current UFT Leadership, Yet a Necessary One UFT President Michael Mulgrew’s initiative to urge the New York City Council to allocate $10,000+ annually in permanently recurring payments to paraprofessionals is undeniably a political maneuver. We should still welc
Leaving Your Conscience and Principles at the Front Door: A Response to Unity’s Leo Casey (By Michael Shulman)
In a recent post by Unity Caucus attacking ARISE, brother Leo Casey writes a long diatribe about why he left the opposition over 40 years ago. He justifies his joining Unity Caucus by first explaining that he was anti -Vietnam War and opposed the 1968 strike against community control. Brother Casey
ARISE Launch Events Friday and Sunday!
New Action is a part of ARISE, the Alliance of Retired and In-Service Educators, a coalition of three major UFT caucuses running in the 2025 UFT leadership elections. We’re fighting for fair pay for all UFT members, better working conditions, improved Welfare Fund benefits, and permanent solu