Unpacking the October, 2022 Delegate Assembly
On October 12th, the UFT had its first DA of 2022. James Eterno at ICE-UFT has published detailed minutes, so I’ll focus on a few points of analysis. Protest Outside: People on the phone missed out on the biggest part of the DA – hundreds of retirees protesting the UFT and MLC’s in
IEPs (and finding time to write them)
As New York teachers well know, IEPs are the legal documents that justify and lay out services for students with disabilities. They’re necessary, no doubt about it. But as special education teachers, IEP Teachers, and various related service providers also well know, the paperwork involved in
UFT Members Take Note – It’s Not Looking Good for Healthcare
At the October 3rd, 2022 session of the UFT Executive Board, buried mostly at the end of an unusually long session with 5+ pages of unofficial minutes, we finally got a decent healthcare debate. Healthcare is now one of the major disagreements between the controlling caucus of our union (Unity) and
Healthcare, Healthcare, Healthcare – UFT Executive Board Minutes, 10/3/2022
Open Mic: Approval of Minutes: approved Special Order of Business: Election – complaints: new set of complaints, there will be a final third set. (One set was already voted on last year). Typically election complaints are usually investigated by the Secretary and UFT Counsel, so UFT employed
Looking Back almost 20 years. How to Organize and Mobilize for a Contract Fight
Attending my second in-person UFT Executive Board on Monday, September 20 made me realize how much I miss being a member of that body and how much things haven’t changed. When the elected high school Exec. Bd. members presented their resolution (see the New Action report on the Exec Bd. That night
Substitute Rights, Healthcare, Buses, 6th Classes, and a No to Action Committee – UFT Executive Board, 9/19/2022
Open Mic: Crystal Mendez Covington: Occupational therapist who has a child who is supposed to receive bussing. Matron has been great. Son has not been picked up. The offer is he is only being picked up at very odd hours – hours after school day begins. Having to take time off to bring him to [&hel
New Action Message to UFT Chapter Leaders (September, 2022)
Dear UFT Chapter Leader, The New Action/ UFT caucus welcomes all Chapter Leaders to the 2022 school year. New Action/ UFT, as a member of the United For Change coalition received 42% of the Active teacher vote and 34% of the Retiree vote in the recently concluded spring UFT election. United For Chan
Healthcare Changes and Class Size Reductions – UFT Executive Board Minutes, 9-12-2022
UFT Executive Board Minutes, 9-12-2022 (Unedited). LeRoy: Welcomes all new members of the executive board following the election. Looks forward to working with all of us. Moment of silence and remembrance for: Florence Vidal and Sherry Bailey Vincent Gaglione: Florence Vidal was a para in District 6
On Budgets
This summer, news of dramatic decreases in funding to the majority of NYC public schools shook the city. A series of protests, calls to action, and a fascinating lawsuit worked to bring Adams’ budget decrease into the public spotlight. And, as of today, that lawsuit has apparently succeeded in all
NEW ACTION SAYS “ISN’T IT TIME FOR THE UFT TO FULLY DIVEST OUR PENSION MONIES FROM GUN MANUFACTURORS OF ASSAULT WEAPONS”
As the “Day to March for Our Lives” rapidly approaches and our UFT has called on members to join in the national march against gun violence in NYC, New Action can’t help but notice a glaring contradiction regarding our union’s policy. In 2013 five members of the UFT Executive Board co-author