At UFT Delegate Assembly, We Vote on Mom AND Apple Pie

Also, Unity throws RTC a bone.

It’s been a long time since we actually go through an agenda. I voted yes on everything, I think. It’s clear to me that Unity is listening to us. How deeply they’re listening is another question. Everything presented was a feel-good resolution. I personally really liked the ESL/ Special ed. resolution, as I’ve faced that issue many, many times.

Several things stood out to me here. Mulgrew spoke of why Democrats lost big. He spoke of how people were focused on themselves, likely referring to inflation, which was not at all considered in our pattern bargaining process. He spoke of people looking out for themselves.

I see distinct parallels in Mulgrew and Unity, who oppose the New York Health Act, who pushed us into a privatized Advantage scheme and fully expected none of us to notice. Instead of working to fix NYHA so it works for all of us, they demean it. They do this, I think, to protect the Welfare Fund, which would be unnecessary with NYHA. If we had the will, we could work it out and ensure all NY employees and retirees had great health coverage.

If the Democrats failed to consider the plights of working people, so did Unity. They sold out the retirees and lost us. I don’t think it was easy for them to consider the resolution we brought, but I credit them for doing so. However, a resolution is an intention. It is not retroactive, and all the blunders Unity made on Medicare, and on all city employee care, still remain.

This resolution does not protect Medicare for us, and Mulgrew has still only given us lip service, as we await another court case. In-service members still face a 10% cut, and I have every expectation Unity will delay it until after the UFT election. That’s the kind of thing Mulgrew refers to as “shenanigans.”

It’s nice that he’s looking at expanding dental coverage, but odd that they ridicule opposition members for demanding the same things. When they do it, it’s “smart.” When we do it, it’s irresponsible. To me, that reeks of, “Four legs good, two legs bad.”

It’s nice that we say we will support the class size law, but several of those I actually teach keep fluctuating from 34 to 35 and back again. DOE Attendance was out today, so I’m not exactly sure where we stood. I’d like to see English Language Learners, in particular, in smaller classes. It’s absurd to compare their needs to those of fluent speakers of English.

I am also not confident this class size law will prevail. It’s VERY, VERY gradual, has many exceptions, and with Trump education cuts, who knows where it will end up? It feels good to say we’ll make it work, but seeing is believing.

I rate this DA improving. I may or may not have more to say about it. I’m still sitting at Francis Lewis High School, as I had time to neither go home nor to the actual DA. I’m outta here folks.

And with that, I bid you all a good night!

Notes—unedited

Mulgrew thanks us for reporting to November 2024 DA.

Mulgrew says we’re not sure about national election, will get back to it. Thanks folks for emails about reports being too long, sarcastically, saying he announced he would do that.

Moment of silence for members who have passed.

Teachers choice checks should go out. Contact msill@uft.org if there are problems.

Election Day—Professional learning day, first in two years in early childhood. Thanks those who put it together. New DOE leadership in that department. Meeting on curriculum, HS and MS math teachers. Clear that DOE cannot implement programs without cooperation of teachers.

Good thing is new chancellor has said that publicly repeatedly. Vision is to fix what’s not working. Lot of work. Teachers have been using math program for years, doesn’t work the way it comes. DOE tells everyone they must follow curriculum with “fidelity”—makes no sense.

Says teachers can modify it to make it work. DOE just says keep up, use fidelity. Chancellor will try to fix, will meet with her and math teachers. Big problem. Doesn’t matter in long run if they pick best curriculum—must be modified. Can’t do it as they do.

Congestion pricing is back. People did not read exit polls. Governor wants to tax those coming in and out of NYC. MTA wants to decrease air quality in Manhattan, decrease it elsewhere.

Special ed. survey had big response, thanks CLs. Will come out publicly with results. Sure it will be used by new admin. Been under state for corrective action for four years, things are getting worse.

Increased disability benefit. Many use it, increased by 100 per week.

Baby formula enterol benefit tripled.

Last year we said we started RFP for dental benefits, will happen next year. Tripling number of dentists. 600 to 1800. 5 additional counties in NY, two in NJ. Reimbursements will be increased. Will make decisions as we move forward. Put out for bids. Technical and legal issues. Will be done next year.

Election Day—Many conversations among labor, elected officials. You heard about exit polls. Many voted for someone they don’t like, others voted for what they do. People say they have to care about themselves first.

National—What will happen is NEA and AFT will be under attack. Not many laws protect them. Will be audits, investigations, will be ugly. AFL CIO met, discussed differences between public and private sector.

Want to take political capabilities from union. Would like to allow multiple collective bargaining units to compete, as in Florida. At state level, laws enacted about unions. National level are federations, conglomerates. State laws protect unions, currently.

Strategy is to defund, declaw and tie up. At state level people say we’re lucky in NY. We have strong labor laws. We are an education union. Will face different attacks, under investigation and audit to tie us up. Want to remover worker rights.

In education, will use Race to the Top approach. Want to kill national DOE, block grant funding, Title 1 and others will be block grants. Will require state voucher program, program not friendly to teachers. Will tell state it’s your choice, but if you want money, you need these laws and policies. Will not be good. Same under Bloomberg and Trump 1.

People have their own opinions. Last time we could fight them off. Don’t know this time. Our analysis is based on education platforms.

Trump—We will respect rights of parent to control ed,, will empower parents to hire and fire teachers..

M—That’s merit pay, tenure.

Trump—Avoid political indoctrination, will be reading writing math arithmetic.

Mulgrew—political indoctrination wide open.

T—will teach to love rather than hate country. Will bring back prayer to schools.

M—not sure whose prayer

T—will have safe secure drug free school with immediate expulsion for anyone who harms teacher or student. Will give all parents right to choose another schoool

M—vouchers

T—ensure project based learning to train for meaningful work, strive to give all students internship and work exp. for first job. Ensure all schools provide career counseling. Talks about dismantling DOE because it’s a failure, let states run it.

M—we like project based learning, internship, have lived through battles on all these. That’s what we face. Want us to stop organizing. Will see DOE try to tie us up, stop activity, decrease membership.

Congress can enact new laws. Pretty sure when they finish counting in CA, will be GOP Congress. All under one party, and president who sees opponents as enemies. Will see case of Janus on steroids. DO Labor can investigate. We get complaints constantly. DOL will keep us under investigation. NLRB, our protecter will be defunded and downsized.

We have to be smart, very smart about how we move forward. Tomorrow AFT Exec Council will meet in this room. Heading for very rough period. They will try to take away things we fought for.

Will be drops in Medicare, Medicaid.

We will gather info, gather allies, be smart.

Good news is across country people still love unions. Bad education policies were voted down. Won’t stop them from moving forward on policies, but people support us. We have to be really smart.

We care a lot about a lot of things, will continue to protect people, will make our own union first, that’s where attacks will be. Will be rough. Been through rough before.

Every demographic in US moved toward Trump. That’s a reality. People want to take care of selves and families before they take care of others.

City Hall—been quiet. New chancellor. Have to work with people at state level. Can we pass laws quickly before Trump is in place? NY did its job this time, but we lost ground in every county.

Every 40 or 50 years you have an election that changes tone of country. Midterm in two years. Working people don’t trust this party anymore, not talking about what’s important to them. No gray area convos with elected officials. Stop taking working people for granted. When they had control, workers didn’t get much. Other side will move fast.

We have election year, will be lots of shenanigans. Will be bad days, but good ones too, will take us working together.

End of report. 4:40.

LeRoy Barr—applauds veterans. Thanks them. Nat school psychologist week. Thanksgiving lunch Nov. 23 52 Bway, collecting coats, having raffle. Teaching students about union on Friday. UFT toy drive, elementary division, will take toys to Dec, 13. Next DA, Dec. 11.

Mulgrew—Nothing better than what we do on Saturday for MS kids, and on Christmas. Please volunteer.

Questions—

Q—OTPT—Tuition reimbursement, night session, many delays, asked last June.

A—DOE said it would be fixed in September, met with them, want to pilot it. Had audacity to tell us problems were because they can’t figure out how to pay you or reimburse you after two years. Also don’t know how to stop para freeze. When new chancellor says we have to fix what’s broken, I like that. They’d rather say they don’t know how to pay you than help children.

Questioner says that’s why contract gets passed.

A-will take legal action

Questioner says OTPTs work hard, were first online providing session, always last when considered for additional pay.

A—hear your frustration, will follow up, file whatever legal things. Can’t say non-compliant because they can’t find workers.

Q—Wondering if updates with MSK.

A—Was there yesterday meeting with CEO. We have spoken in person. Strongly made it priority for us. We use them more than other unions because of our programs. CEO is doctor. We have a panel of social workers who go to MSK on behalf of members. Confident we will get it done. Will do all in my power to get it done. Ramifications are something we’re not willing to deal with. I am active man in the middle between orgs.

Q—Covid memo number one—extended by DOE. Several member got vaccines, were told they were not covered. Issue now, we have colleagues when they have reaction to vaccine, comes out of CAR, New memo starts November 1st. Those before were denied days, how are we fighting and pushing back on new memo number 3.

A. We told them we don’t agree. We are only union that gets COVID days. We fought back with legal process. Why rest of unions went along with it we don’t know. We used legal process.

Q—Wondering if other chapters experiencing math consultants coming in, observing members, getting email feedback copied to supervisor, all negative. That’s what they get paid to do. Teachers very anxious when consultant comes in. Gotcha atomosphere. Need to follow every guideline of math curriculum, no variation. Also with HMH. Teachers need to do every part of program, told they can’t modify, or add books kids love. HMH curriculum says to add high interest materials, or things that worked in past. How do we get message out that we must modify to meet student needs?

A—Can’t agree more. Have stopped this in other schools. No outside consultant can evaluate. Something’s gotta give. Have been in rooms where chancellor says you have to let them modify. Wall of stupid at DOE. How can you be administrator and not know you can’t teach anything with fidelity. We keep squashing it where it happens, but principals don’t read. Sent to Mary Vacarro or LeRoy Barr.

Q—observations cycles—how many in classroom at any given time?

A—Have you heard of norming? Send us your school. Admin should learn as much as teacher. Shouldn’t be there just to norm. If they work it out with teachers, it’s different. Group will affect behavior and performance of students and we will invalidate. Can’t be formal.

Motions—

Adam Shapiro, Exec. Board—next month’s agenda. IEP writing during contractual work hours. Not responsibility of workers to compensate broken system through unpaid labor. You can love your work, and understand that we are not volunteers. Members shouldn’t be up all night working on IEPs. Not member, but school that will be out of compliance. We need to provide time in work day, hold admin accountable. Vote in favor please.

online yes 1013 no 28 in house 362 yes, 9 no passes 97%

Bennett Fischer, RTC CL—next month. No changes to UFT member health care without DA approval. Sent by overwhelming vote of RTC. Health care matters to all of us, big RTC issue for years. Significant changes have been bargained without DA approval, highest union body. Proposes any significant changes be submitted, in detail to DA at least one month before being asked to vote. Health care too important to be changed without our consent. Retirees only found out haphazardly several years ago, should not happen to any members. Understand that is burden on negotiators, and adjustment that has to be made. Democracy a lot of work, but worth it. Urges support for full debate.

Point of order—Lila Lieberman—doesn’t understand weighted vote. If you are largest organization, and you get weighted vote, no way that whatever you want will not happen, unfair.

Mulgrew—Everyone in here elected on their own. One for every 60. You represent that when you vote. Whether you believe someone belongs to one club or another, constitution says one for every 60.

Rick Mantel—Asks we extend motion period for five minutes.

Mulgrew—already past time. No matter what you read, I try to be civil.

Extend time—online yes—757 no—217 room 283 yes 94 no 70% passes

Resolution—online yes—701 no—57 room 324 yes 50 no 91% passes

Leo Gordon—moves we move this to number one for today.

Mulgrew hums Jeopardy

yes—online 466 no—300 room yes 194 no 158 fails to achieve 2/3 vote.

Resolutions—

Mary Jo Ginese—Referral of asylum seekers to special ed. Many children come into schools, some have not had formal education, have many challenges, including language. Historically there has been under and over referral for ENL students. Part of special ed. training. Many myths about when they can be referred. Many people thought there was three year waiting period.

SED also saw this needed clarification. There is no minimum time. This issue can go over or under referral. Wants people to understand under IDEA it is our duty to ID students who may have disabilities. Are signs other than language. Many admin will try to deter these referrals. Asks for your support.

Tracy Ivanik—Calling to support. Teaching 28 years. Will never forget begging for two years to have s evaluated. Was told he needed three years of ESL. Child finally tested labeled “borderline retarded.”

Point of information—Sara Shapiro retiree delegate—Says resolution on over-referral. Seems like person spoke of under referral as well.

Mulgrew—Sub resolution. SED gave new orders. Info is updated.

Point of parliamentary inquiry—Daniel Alicea—asks about rules on substitutions.

Mulgrew—don’t want people to hear things that are misleading. What it originally did, SED has weighed in.

? Cohen—Should have it in writing.

Mulgrew—was on table. Is in writing.

Point of order—All inquiries directed to chair, who may refer to parliamentarian.

Mulgrew—Spirit of resolution has been met. We have clarification. Up to union to decide whether what is clarified is in our schools. Rules sub res. in order.

Jeanie Godman—Calls question.

call question vote.

online yes—461 no 113 room 304 yes ? no

Mulgrew says no one appreciates him humming Jeopardy theme.

Vote on resolution—

Online yes—688 no 32 room yes 333 no 11 96% reso passes

Cat McGrath—Fairness in excessing. Whereas we can be excessed, and in some cases principals have too many APs, disproportionately falls on UFT, can hurt mandated services, want to allow APs to be excessed if necessary.

Question called.

Call question vote—

online yes—565 no 74 room yes—322 no 22 98% for yes

Resolution—

online yes 176 no17 room ? passes

Amanda Dutton—Resolution urging repeal of Comsect? act, archaic and sexist. opposes freedom of choice.

Call question vote—

online yes—606 no 50 room 310 yes 17 no

Mulgrew sings disco song.

Resolution—

online yes—527 no 51 room yes 324 no 12 93% passes

Vinny Carletta—class size resolution—DOE cannot be trusted with class size. We must stay vigilant and look at class sizes. Put their feet to the fire, is a law, has to happen, will happen.

Norm Scott—Amendment—Once a year, NY Teacher publish every oversize class in city. NY Teacher did it for two years, based on 23 year old resolution.

Mulgrew—You are correct. Was based on contract. Ruled out of order.

Tina Silverman—calls question.

yes 635 no 17 327 yes 8 no 97% yes

resolution—

yes 669 no 11 room 321 yes 2 no passes

Mulgrew—First time post Covid we got through agenda. Post has been a challenge. We had fun with resolutions. Facing daunting challenge. Remember, we always have to have each other. We have rights and benefits that will be put on line, must be smart, coordinated, work with each other. Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for being delegates.

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