Arthur you nailed the spirit I found in ABC and working with new people who are fast becoming new friends. We seem to work so easy together, I actually look forward to meetings. And we also have fun on our chats. A breath of fresh air for me and I can also see you engaging in so much give and take and enjoying being part of the group- and seeing Katie emerge as a super star.
as always, a great piece...although one quibble....at least in my mind, if michael mulgrew were to lose the election this coming spring, he never would go back into the classroom and have to be subjected to observations and dealing with a classroom. he would retire as soon as his term is up and get some high paid consulting job with aetna as a thanks for his service to them, or get another consulting gig with nysut or doing something for randi weingarten...just my thoughts based on nothing except observing how patronage with the uft has seemed to work
Yes, I like the ABC meetings too. Finally the voice to all the things I have been saying to the wind for close to half a century. A happy holiday to you and yours. I thank you also for all the hard work you do.
What Sean consistently keeps missing - and it almost looks intentional - is that the caucuses want to totally control the election process and lock ABC into the narrow steering committee structure where the problems began as Steve chronicled in a post on the history. Sean purposely ignores the roots of the problem when he could offer something specific that could break the logjam. He should ask the caucuses if they would relinquish the absolute control of steering which has met secretly for months. Unless he does that his constant repetition of the same points in every post that puts the onus on ABC shows he is partial to his caucus and fine with the way they have been doing things.
Hello, I joined this stack because I am interested in the inner workings of current unions. My name is Carrie I grew up with a very unique perspective on unions. I live in the rust belt of Ohio Youngstown to be exact. I was not sure if any of your members are old enough but our town had one of the biggest union movements as a small child in the late seventys and beyond I spent many days on the picket lines with my mother. At that time the unions would pull together picket together and strike together. Can someone please tell me why this cannot be achieved again. Many young people have not seen the power of what strong unions can do. I added up the memberships of our current unions in the US if we were to force healthcare change thru union solidarity could this be the battle cry younger people need. With reduced workforce and not being able to fill jobs just like the NYC dock workers change happens when you threaten to shut down trade. As we can see this is being used by soon to be presidents currently. So unions ban together call you brothers from all trades and make healthcare changes. We can't overthrow a government but we can stop 🛑 and negotiate change. I have been collecting information on Youngstown unions and the role they played here it was hard but it happened. Just thoughts of a 47 year old local UAW 1112 kid growing up. Thanks for reading my thoughts 💬. Carrie
Doesn’t that necessitate a negotiation to fill out a unified slate or are you saying that the only slate is ABC and individuals and even caucuses can join ABC? So if all the members of MORE and NAC come to a ABC meeting where the candidates are being selected and assuming they have the majority then what happens if MORE and NAC just choose their candidates and bypass ABC leaders? I don’t think that the caucuses are as bad as Norm and others make them out to be but the point is to drop all the sectarian gossipy chatter and establish a working relationship. Is this the way ABC proposes to run the UFT in the remote chance that it would defeat Unity - will caucuses be banned?
Seems like you've been fed a lot of misinformation and are projecting. Cynicism and bad faith won't win the day. ABC has always been willing to work with the caucuses and that is still our position. Feel free to contact me at chadhamilton231@gmail.com if you want to brainstorm solutions.
I think a responsive union requires a unified opposition slate this spring that has the best chance of defeating Unity. The wisdom and skills to accomplish this is the real test of leadership in my opinion. Even if a unified slate doesn't win it will be the closest that Unity ever came to defeat and will be a great motivator for change in the upcoming contract and the continuing battle to secure medicare coverage for retirees.
ABC has always been, and will always be, ready to run in a unified coalition with any and all UFT members committed to unseating Unity and changing our UFT for the better.
Arthur you nailed the spirit I found in ABC and working with new people who are fast becoming new friends. We seem to work so easy together, I actually look forward to meetings. And we also have fun on our chats. A breath of fresh air for me and I can also see you engaging in so much give and take and enjoying being part of the group- and seeing Katie emerge as a super star.
Thanks Norm, and thanks also for dragging me back. I'm really glad you did!
Funny but Glenn said the same thing. My best thing is dragging people back.
It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it.
as always, a great piece...although one quibble....at least in my mind, if michael mulgrew were to lose the election this coming spring, he never would go back into the classroom and have to be subjected to observations and dealing with a classroom. he would retire as soon as his term is up and get some high paid consulting job with aetna as a thanks for his service to them, or get another consulting gig with nysut or doing something for randi weingarten...just my thoughts based on nothing except observing how patronage with the uft has seemed to work
Oh, absolutely. I was just stating what I'd like to see.
yes, that would be delightful
Yes, I like the ABC meetings too. Finally the voice to all the things I have been saying to the wind for close to half a century. A happy holiday to you and yours. I thank you also for all the hard work you do.
Thanks Arthur. Hope to see you January 5th!
Happy Holidays Arthur! I think this is among your top 10 amazing publications to date! Thank you!
Thanks for your kind words Kathy, and happy holidays to you and yours.
Well said, sir
Thank you Katie.
What Sean consistently keeps missing - and it almost looks intentional - is that the caucuses want to totally control the election process and lock ABC into the narrow steering committee structure where the problems began as Steve chronicled in a post on the history. Sean purposely ignores the roots of the problem when he could offer something specific that could break the logjam. He should ask the caucuses if they would relinquish the absolute control of steering which has met secretly for months. Unless he does that his constant repetition of the same points in every post that puts the onus on ABC shows he is partial to his caucus and fine with the way they have been doing things.
Hello, I joined this stack because I am interested in the inner workings of current unions. My name is Carrie I grew up with a very unique perspective on unions. I live in the rust belt of Ohio Youngstown to be exact. I was not sure if any of your members are old enough but our town had one of the biggest union movements as a small child in the late seventys and beyond I spent many days on the picket lines with my mother. At that time the unions would pull together picket together and strike together. Can someone please tell me why this cannot be achieved again. Many young people have not seen the power of what strong unions can do. I added up the memberships of our current unions in the US if we were to force healthcare change thru union solidarity could this be the battle cry younger people need. With reduced workforce and not being able to fill jobs just like the NYC dock workers change happens when you threaten to shut down trade. As we can see this is being used by soon to be presidents currently. So unions ban together call you brothers from all trades and make healthcare changes. We can't overthrow a government but we can stop 🛑 and negotiate change. I have been collecting information on Youngstown unions and the role they played here it was hard but it happened. Just thoughts of a 47 year old local UAW 1112 kid growing up. Thanks for reading my thoughts 💬. Carrie
Members but not caucuses?
Caucuses too if they are so inclined!
Doesn’t that necessitate a negotiation to fill out a unified slate or are you saying that the only slate is ABC and individuals and even caucuses can join ABC? So if all the members of MORE and NAC come to a ABC meeting where the candidates are being selected and assuming they have the majority then what happens if MORE and NAC just choose their candidates and bypass ABC leaders? I don’t think that the caucuses are as bad as Norm and others make them out to be but the point is to drop all the sectarian gossipy chatter and establish a working relationship. Is this the way ABC proposes to run the UFT in the remote chance that it would defeat Unity - will caucuses be banned?
Seems like you've been fed a lot of misinformation and are projecting. Cynicism and bad faith won't win the day. ABC has always been willing to work with the caucuses and that is still our position. Feel free to contact me at chadhamilton231@gmail.com if you want to brainstorm solutions.
I think a responsive union requires a unified opposition slate this spring that has the best chance of defeating Unity. The wisdom and skills to accomplish this is the real test of leadership in my opinion. Even if a unified slate doesn't win it will be the closest that Unity ever came to defeat and will be a great motivator for change in the upcoming contract and the continuing battle to secure medicare coverage for retirees.
ABC has always been, and will always be, ready to run in a unified coalition with any and all UFT members committed to unseating Unity and changing our UFT for the better.