Public Schools, Unions and Teachers: Facing A Yawning Abyss

Monday was the first day for collecting signatures to get on the June 24th Democratic Primary Ballot for the City Council and I’m helping a friend. You have to be a registered democrat and live in the district to sign a nominating petition.

Recent politics in NYC has turned off voters, the June 24th turnout will be, at best, 25%.  When asked, “Are you a registered democrat,” most passersbys just snarled. Unfortunately, our members, in the past have voted at the same low level as voters in general.   

The leading candidate for mayor, according to polling, is Andrew Cuomo, and he hasn’t even announced his candidacy.

When NYSUT decided not to make an endorsement in the democratic primary in 2014 a few Long Island locals endorsed his opposition, a Fordham University law professor.  After winning both the primary and the general election overwhelmingly Cuomo increased teacher probation from three to four years. The message from Cuomo: mess with me and there are consequences.  Btw, Cuomo is also responsible for Tier 6.

Zeyphr Teachout, the candidate, might have made an excellent governor, we’ll never know, the consequences of her failed endorsement was retribution. How would the opposition caucuses deal with Cuomo as mayor?  How would they respond in the rough and tumble of building coalitions and defending schools and our members?  I have serious doubts.

The recent US DoE Dear Colleagues letter to every state threatened cuts in funding, NYS receives 1.5 Billion, if states don’t abandon all Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies, NYS has been a leading state in advancing DEI initiatives.

How will the state respond? 

The American Federation of Teachers (those Unity folks) and other organizations have filed a law suit.

And, we’re only a month into the Trump/Musk regency.

The UFT needs politically agile, wise in the world of the dark and bumpy alleys of politics, with proven skills, we can’t afford well-meaning amateurs.

Ballots for the UFT elections are in the mail May 1.

The UFT, our union, is under assault from the feds, maybe the next mayor, and, from ill-advised internal caucuses.

A caucus is a political party, and the name “United” Federation of Teachers describes the founding of the UFT, the merger of competing organizations. The UFT, from its origins has had competing caucuses, and Unity, the name describes the action, the merger of competing caucuses to both form the union and dominate the internal politics.

While the UFT has multiple political parties our political system generally has had two parties, Republicans and Democrats. Before every session of the Assembly an announcement, “Conference,” Democrats and Republicans hold “member only” meetings to discuss the issues of the day, once the session begins, on the floor, the majority party rules.

In the upcoming UFT elections the opposition caucuses complain that Unity dominates, Unity is simply reflecting the decision-making structure in New York City Council, the Albany legislature and the Congress. 

The opposition candidates, mostly have never worked in the union and others appear disaffected, they were never promoted. The opposition platform does both not represent the membership and is counterproductive.  Are our members “preparing for a strike,” or ready to endorse Republican candidates? I think not, and, these policies would destroy the union.

The UFT has spent decades working with parents and advocacy organizations, back in my day, with elected school boards, we always endorsed parent candidates. We worked side by side with pro public school organizations, “…threatening to strike” would destroy relationships as well as alienating electeds.

In this climate cozying up to Republicans, which means MAGA, would antagonize democrats, our allies.

We need experienced tough leadership.

We have to check the Unity box on the ballot we have to urge colleagues to check the box.

Teaching is incredibly demanding, with preparing for state tests and end of the year festivities an election that will determine the future of the union might get caught up in the pressures, we need your vote, your colleagues vote and, yes, your students need your vote. We need a proven leadership that reduced class size, avoided drastic cuts in funding and saved 5,000 jobs by retaining the charter school cap.

GOTV, Get Out The Vote, is everyone’s job,

Remember: check the Unity box