The United Federation of Teachers, the UFT has almost 200,000 members,
75,000 teachers
25,000 paraprofessionals
60,000 retirees
50,000 other titles, I.e., school secretaries, guidance counselors, speech pathologists, etc. working in 1800 school and other facilities.
The governance structure:
* officers (11) and Boro Reps, meet weekly
*102 member executive board, meets twice a month
* 3400 delegates, meets monthly, in-person and online
The service model:
* An office in each Boro
• District Representative in each district, high schools and D 75
* Staff, full time and part time in each Boro office plus, staff to assist in pension, certification and personal issues (Members Assistance Program)
And the Welfare Fund,
Staff members begin as part time PM staff, selected from chapter leaders recommended by district reps, and over time, a few are “promoted “ to full time staff.
My experience, I was fascinated with the union, attended executive board meetings, high school committee meetings, volunteered and was offered a PM staff position, leading to a district rep position.
A few of us were asked to participate in Arbitration training, and, in addition to our union duties, represented members in the arbitration process.In my experience the union has always tried to identify the best candidates, not based on caucus affiliation, based on competency.
I learned to carefully research each member question, due diligence, to reach out to other staff, other experts, skills I use today.
A retired teacher received an eviction notice, and called me, I haven’t been a UFTer for many years, helping members is embedded in our DNA, I contacted the chair of the Assembly Housing Committee, she referred me to a tenant law firm, matter was quickly resolved.
In the upcoming UFT elections, ballots mailed May 1, opposition caucus candidates appear to be disaffected members, who didn’t get union jobs or promotions, who from my position appeared totally unqualified to run a 200,000 member union!!
When I was leery of the proposed NY Health Law, all NYS residents, 20 million of us, would be moved into a “Medicare for All, first in the nation program, costing many billions, funded by a progressive health tax. I did my due diligence and had questions: how much would it cost individual teachers? Was there a dispute resolution mechanism? (See my blog here and the legislative sponsor here). As I mentioned in my blog jumping into a pool without checking the depth of the water is precarious
The opposition caucuses promising higher salaries through strikes is foolhardy.
In the world of Trump/Musk, the existence of public schools and teacher unions is at stake, the Unity slate is both experienced with a leadership who moved up through the ranks and truly understands the needs of members.
In selecting a doctor or a attorney or a mechanic I want someone with experience, in selecting union leaders the same holds, experience and competency are the values we must support
Check the Unity box, we face a battle for our very survival: can Trump replace us all with Chatbots?
Ed in the Apple: Blogging on the Intersection of Education and Politics Title 