4 Comments
Oct 16, 2023Liked by Arthur Goldstein

This non loyalty thing is not new… I have been retired for over 20 years and I was active in the New Action caucus… unity would constantly offer me out of state delegate conferences , free cell phones, expense accounts and other perks for being a Unity member all of which was refused. So look what it got you a corrupt leader that does not represent his DA or members. Good luck with that!!!!

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Oct 16, 2023Liked by Arthur Goldstein

Amy is an example of what the union uses to be. When I retired, I had a major pension mistake, old time union person Sandy March (rest her soul) got it fixed in weeks and got TRS to send me an apology letter. When I was supposed to get my 10 year longevity 34 years ago, but had my salary reduced by $200, an experienced union person in charge of such issues had it fixed in one pay period. In 1979, when it took over a year to get my differentials, another experienced union person went to bat to save my retroactive. People today chosen through patronage would never do what the people of the past did for me. Not only did they care, they were nice, just like Amy.

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Amy Arundell use to be Special Assistant to Michael Mulgrew when he first became president of the union. Advising him and keeping him on message. She helped me trying to fight for me as a UFT delegate I was targeted by the School administration. The chapter leader fought hard for me however when she elevated my case no one fought for me. The only person who responded and fought for ne was Amy Arundell. I switch over my license and got a termination letter saying I was teaching out of license and I would be terminated. The administration just had to sign a letter saying I would be reappointed under my new license obviously they refused and I lost my job. As soon as I started speaking up I started to get observation after observation. Daily and weekly visits from administration. I was micromanaged but I am a unionist and stuck it out. Amazingly they could never find anything I was doing that did not follow protocol. But I still got bad evaluations. I was emailing them daily about matters of public concern.

I ended up taking the DOE to Federal court and I had the option of suing the union but being an idealist I declined. Years later I regret it because possibly I could have stopped Michael Mulgrew and the union destroying the members. Just like they refused to represent me or even provide me with a lawyer or fight as true unionist would for each member especially considering that I had a clean teaching record for 4 years and all the problems started my fifth year when I became a delegate. I kept quiet all these years wanting a normal life and normalcy for my family. I guess a person of conscious can never forget and has to keep fighting.

Amy Arundell brung my case to the top but they all ignored it and ignored her to the max. She apologized for me and said sorry I tried my hardest and I trusted that gave it her all for defend a good teacher.

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author

I'm very, very sorry you had that experience. It rings absolutely true to me, knowing Amy, and knowing the rest of them.

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