You Cannot Trust Michael Mulgrew, or His Unity Patronage Cult
They have no core values, and their positions change whenever Mulgrew's mood ring changes color.
You’ve probably been reading about GOP right-to-life candidates scrambling out in Arizona to appear they don’t support the 1864 abortion ban their state court has affirmed. Though many had different positions earlier, they’re now reassessing this political loser. Kari Lake, who famously refused to accept her defeat as governor, called it a great law in 2022, but now, running for Senator, calls for its repeal. Of course, pols on both sides shift their positions as they see which way the wind is blowing.
That said, we must be perpetually wary of those who exhibit no moral center. Closer to home, UFT leadership regularly changes positions as they allow for whatever boneheaded deals they make.
There used to be a UFT seniority transfer plan. I was very lucky to be able to come to Francis Lewis High School from John Adams.
My then-supervisor had a Spanish teacher who regularly sent kids to her office. I never threw kids out. The supervisor, for reasons having to do strictly with her own convenience, told me that I would teach all Spanish or she would place me on a late program. She well knew this would have forced me to give up my after-school job at Queens College. I had just bought a house and needed the second job. She knew that too.
I was able to use the UFT seniority transfer to go to Lewis, which then had no late programs. It worked on multiple levels. I got a better supervisor. I was also able to keep teaching ENL, which I loved. I’m certified to teach Spanish, but my English is a lot better than my Spanish. I was very thankful for this program, and still am.
Shortly thereafter, UFT dumped the program, replacing it with the open market. The open market, though, gives principals absolute discretion over whom they hire or reject. This is particularly egregious since schools now pay teachers from their building budgets. There is a whole lot of incentive for principals not to hire more experienced teachers. New untenured teachers are far more likely to get out there and do whatever the principal demands (no matter how outlandish or non-contractual it may be).
But UFT bosses say more people transfer, so it’s therefore better. It’s certainly better for new teachers, who didn’t have access to the UFT transfer plan. What would be better for all would have been keeping both programs in place. The tabloids wrote about how principals now have all the power, and how great it was. I read elsewhere how it was “mutual consent.” That was absurd, of course. Which teachers would apply to schools in which they did not wish to work?
Then, there’s Danielson. Danielson still hangs over the heads of teachers, much like the Sword of Damocles. Mulgrew and his Unity minions say it’s not so bad, because not many teachers get fired. But I regularly see the stress of Danielson etched on the faces of my colleagues. Morale has taken a hit, and the UFT bosses don’t care. Why should they? Your District Rep. teaches one class a day, and is not subject to Danielson. Along with special reps, many UFT big shots don’t teach at all.
When Danielson came out, Bloomberg wanted to use seven or eight components, but UFT insisted upon using all 22. It was a Great Victory. The Bestest Thing Ever. Shortly thereafter, UFT bosses negotiated a deal to use seven or eight. That, of course, was another Great Victory. And that, too, was the Bestest Thing Ever.
Considering that, it’s odd that I got an email from NYSUT this morning asking me to help repeal APPR. If it’s the Bestest Thing Ever, why would we do that? Doesn’t Michael Mulgrew think it’s wonderful? Didn’t he defend it over and over at the DA? Isn’t anyone who opposes it a lunatic, or a crank? And hey, isn’t Mike Mulgrew the guy who would punch your face out if you tried to take away Common Core? I thought he adored all things reformy.
If you follow this Substack, you may recall Michael Mulgrew getting up on his hind legs at the Delegate Assembly to declare that every doctor who accepted Medicare would accept his Advantage scheme. Of course, Mulgrew’s “very smart people” had not bothered to check with doctors. He later clarified, saying not all doctors would take it. That, too, was a Great Victory.
Mulgrew says the plan will pay doctors the same as Medicare. That’s a Great Victory. Now here’s the thing—that could change at any time. Once the plan starts paying half of what Medicare pays, it will be another Great Victory. And as further providers disappear, they will find some cut-rate network that will be free of co-pays. And of course, that will be another Great Victory, even though real Medicare has no copays at all. (Too bad for you if you retired to some place the cheapo doctors don’t work.)
Here’s the thing—no matter what Mulgrew does, it’s a Great Victory. In 2014, when he gave a billion dollars from our Stabilization Fund to the city, in exchange for a contract unworthy of lining your bird cage, it was a Great Victory. In 2018, when unbeknownst to rank and file, he promised 600 million dollars of annual savings from our health care forever, in exchange for a 3-year contract that may have kept up with inflation, it was yet another Great Victory.
Lately Mulgrew’s been paying Valuable Lip Service to opposing mayoral control. Or reforming it. Or something. John Liu, though, just said it’s been restored, and that UFT (meaning UFT bosses) helped work it out.
Now here’s the thing with Mulgrew and his paid sycophants—it’s always a slippery slope. If we let them give us Advantage, they’ll keep copays reasonable, at first. You won’t need permission for all procedures. At first. But as Mulgrew, or whatever stooge takes his place, improves on the deal your copays will rise and your options will shrink. He and his cult have no moral center, and no bottom save for what they think they can get away with.
Dear reader—they’ve gotten away with too much already. We can no longer afford any more of Mulgrew’s Great Victories.
Next month, if you’re a retiree, vote for Retiree Advocate (and me). We will fight to preserve our health care, and if Mike Mulgrew doesn’t like it, we’ll let him know exactly what he can do about it. If you’re a paraprofessional, vote for FixParaPay. They will work to get paras a living wage, not just the scraps Mulgrew’s cult sees fit to toss them. If you’re a teacher, make sure you select a chapter leader who will represent YOU, not Mike Mulgrew and his Unity Patronage Cult.
I said it before, and I’ll say it again. Your vote is everything.
Urging everyone to vote the New Action Slate. Vote because your life could depend on it.
Why doesn’t Retiree Advocate get access to New York Teacher? Why doesn’t Retiree Advocate get access to retiree contact information, e-mail addresses, etc.