Paraprofessional Migda Rodriguez Finally Gets a UFT Job

One year late, under intense pressure, Unity grants paraprofessionals some of the representation they voted for.

Migda Rodriguez has a lot of heart. I have nothing but respect for her. First of all, she’s a paraprofessional. I don’t think I could do that job, even if the pay weren’t as low as it is.

Paraprofessionals elected her as second vice chair a year ago. Unity resisted. They didn’t give her a job. They ridiculed her for not going to their meetings. They pretty much told her she’d been elected for the purpose of sitting in meetings. Unlike her Unity counterparts, she was given no time off, no compensation whatsoever, and not even a lousy UFT email address.

Let me tell you something—I don’t vote for people so they can sit at meetings. I don’t suspect you do either. Here’s something else—I’ve sat through many, many meetings at UFT. A good number of them were about fixing CR Part 154, which hurts the newcomers I serve by denying them the instruction in English they so sorely need. I was pushed, by several people in and out of the union, to start working with the UFT committee on English language learners.

So I did. I was told UFT had a “white paper,” whatever that is, to address it. In months and years of meetings, I never saw it. Then Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa came to UFT and said she would fix Part 154. Along with reps from UFT and NYSUT, I went to Albany to meet with Rosa, and she didn’t even show up. Eventually, at our UFT meetings, the woman who led them clearly did not even want to discuss Part 154 anymore. I determined, if these people would not address this fundamental inequity, my time would be better spent elsewhere.

I’ve also been to other meetings where we discussed opening UFT to member participation. I went for weeks. We discussed a lot of things to involve members. People told me what great ideas I had. What came of these meetings? Nothing but the valuable lip service for which Unity is renowned.

People from UFT Unity will call you in for meetings, tell you what fabulous ideas you have, tell you how important they think you are, and then do nothing. (I was warned about this, but felt I had to give them the benefit of the doubt.)

Last week, under intense pressure, UFT leadership gave Migda Rodriquez the full-time job they should have given her a year ago. Paraprofessionals, by a margin of 3 to 1, chose Migda’s caucus over Unity. After a full year, paraprofessionals will have some voice. I have no doubt that Unity will try to charm Migda and win her over.

This notwithstanding, as recently as last week, Unity members, on Facebook, were still ridiculing Migda for not going to meetings. These Unity members were elected to represent paraprofessionals, but only because they had no opposition. Paraprofessionals overwhelmingly chose Migda and her caucus. (If Unity sees fit to deny this discussion, I’d be delighted to post a screenshot.)

They spoke of another opposition member who attended the meetings. The fact that Migda failed to attend because she needed to support her family was neither here nor there. Last I looked, 52 Unity members liked this post. And why not? They all had paid gigs. Screw paraprofessionals who need a second job to make a living! That attitude is precisely why paras overwhelmingly chose the Fix Para Pay slate.

During the election, Unity posted a picture of Migda in a funny hat, ridiculing her for choosing to support her family rather than attend meetings. How hilarious that paras are paid so poorly they need to work second jobs! Paraprofessionals, in overwhelming numbers, failed to see the humor.

I’ve met Migda and I’ve spoken with her on numerous occasions. I don’t guess any Unity charm offensive will make her forget how they treated her. They relented only because they were pressured into doing it. As Frederick Douglas said, “Power concedes nothing without a demand.”

Unity now knows that paraprofessionals will not quietly submit. Nor will retirees. Next year, after Mulgrew’s health debacle hits them as well, rank and file will let Unity know exactly what they think about their outlandish negotiating tactics.

Paraprofessionals have spoken. Retirees have spoken. And here’s our message to the elite, privileged, invitation-only, loyalty-oath signing Unity Caucus:

We are the majority, and we will not be denied.