The key, IMO, is to eliminate dues checkoff. This is the source of the UFT power. The most effective tool to register your opposition is to withhold dues money , which is now impossible without opting out of the union.. I base my opinion on my experience with the illegal 1975 NYC teacher UFT strike where, as punishment, the UFT lost dues checkoff for a period of 3 months. During that time teach School chapter leaders had the task to ask every rank and file member to write a check for monthly dues. In my school, IS 364, nearly half the teachers refused to voluntarily pay dues due dissatisfaction with the union. Now THAT is a protest. AS long as the UFT leadership is secure in guaranteed income through dues checkoff without any meaningful accountability, change will difficult. UFT elections are rigged and, if the UFT leadership don't like the results they refuse to accept them and order a new election. Makes Trump look like a wimp. I realize opting out is a heavy lift since Mulgrew and the leadership probably attend the same "basement meetings" as the politicians they control with union donations and support. These corrupt politicians will never vote to end dues checkoff. It's their lifeblood too. No wonder opting out, though now legal, is extremely difficult
I can see why some folks favor dues checkoff, but I agree with you that for the most part it's counterproductive and allows corrupt leaderships to entrench themselves. Also giving your employer any sort of access to union dues money just seems.... like.... not a good idea.
Yes, dues checkoff should be voluntary and revocable. Right now it's neither. In addition the union raises dues automatically every time there is a contract based on a vote from 1982. The atmosphere was much different from today. Ironically there are no more teachers in the system who voted form this provision.The UFT leadership is just fine with this and most current teachers have no idea they are subject to a vote that occurred 40 years ago before many were even born. BTW this is published every year in the UFT paper in a statement but gets little notice. Most current rank and file probably believe this is how it's always been. As a retired Assistant Principal and my spouse whom its retired NYC teacher right now, the biggest fight is opposition to Medicare Advantage which is a bad deal for retirees and will be for all.
The key, IMO, is to eliminate dues checkoff. This is the source of the UFT power. The most effective tool to register your opposition is to withhold dues money , which is now impossible without opting out of the union.. I base my opinion on my experience with the illegal 1975 NYC teacher UFT strike where, as punishment, the UFT lost dues checkoff for a period of 3 months. During that time teach School chapter leaders had the task to ask every rank and file member to write a check for monthly dues. In my school, IS 364, nearly half the teachers refused to voluntarily pay dues due dissatisfaction with the union. Now THAT is a protest. AS long as the UFT leadership is secure in guaranteed income through dues checkoff without any meaningful accountability, change will difficult. UFT elections are rigged and, if the UFT leadership don't like the results they refuse to accept them and order a new election. Makes Trump look like a wimp. I realize opting out is a heavy lift since Mulgrew and the leadership probably attend the same "basement meetings" as the politicians they control with union donations and support. These corrupt politicians will never vote to end dues checkoff. It's their lifeblood too. No wonder opting out, though now legal, is extremely difficult
I can see why some folks favor dues checkoff, but I agree with you that for the most part it's counterproductive and allows corrupt leaderships to entrench themselves. Also giving your employer any sort of access to union dues money just seems.... like.... not a good idea.
Yes, dues checkoff should be voluntary and revocable. Right now it's neither. In addition the union raises dues automatically every time there is a contract based on a vote from 1982. The atmosphere was much different from today. Ironically there are no more teachers in the system who voted form this provision.The UFT leadership is just fine with this and most current teachers have no idea they are subject to a vote that occurred 40 years ago before many were even born. BTW this is published every year in the UFT paper in a statement but gets little notice. Most current rank and file probably believe this is how it's always been. As a retired Assistant Principal and my spouse whom its retired NYC teacher right now, the biggest fight is opposition to Medicare Advantage which is a bad deal for retirees and will be for all.
It's hard for me to distinguish that position from that of not having to pay dues at all. If indeed it is, please tell me why.
Mulgrew held a meeting to scare OT/PT into voting yes. So, I am assuming that the re-vote will work in the unions favor, unfortunately.