Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) Aim to Control UFT

 There is a monster lurking in the shadows of the UFT. It's the Democratic Socialists of America. 

The Crack Team came across a Politico article from 2019 outlining how DSA wishes to gain control of NYC labor unions. Much more interesting from the article is DSA's manifesto how to go about taking control of NYC labor unions. 

DSA has already established a beachhead in having nominal control over the Retired Teacher's chapter of the UFT. The biggest voices and organizers are those from DSA as well as officers. 

Basically, the Retired Teachers chapter was low hanging fruit for DSA to influence. In comparison to the rest of the UFT it is a smaller chapter with members who are basically homogenous in that they are, well, retired. Yes, they ousted the Tom Murphy, Mulgrew's sycophant, and put a fear into Unity. We here at SBSB are pleased this has happened. But how many voting retirees knew of the long clutches of DSA into and within their chapter?

Look at what has become of those congressional candidates and cities that have have ties to DSA. Cori Bush was primaried and lost. Man child Jamaal Bowman was primaried and lost. AOC, who I do respect, has grown into her role and was no endorsed by DSA. And this just in today. The DSA experiment failed in Portland OR. 

But let's have a look at how DSA plans to control the UFT (Page 3 of the manifesto).

UFT / Teachers abr. Economic Leverage: The NYC DOE is one of the largest employers in the metro area. Education workers’ strikes have enormous ability to shut down regional/statewide economies, with great political impact.

 Social/Political Leverage: Schools are community hubs in every neighborhood in the city. Education workers have the potential to build solidarity with students, their families, and broader working class communities.

Of course. Let's indoctrinate 4th graders. 

Barriers to Entry: Teaching requires a master’s degree, as well as ongoing continuing education. There may be other financial challenges with alternative certification programs. Other job categories within the DOE have less onerous requirements. 

DSA Member Density: There are many DSA teachers, and there is a large support network for new teachers and teacher activists. There are also DSA paraprofessionals, school secretaries, and other DOE job categories. 

Working Conditions: Vary widely by school. It takes a long time to build strong relationships with coworkers and students. The work is extremely social and emotionally draining but can be fulfilling and an outlet for creativity. Teachers can get tenure (which offers meaningful job security) after 4 years.

 Political Status: UFT is the largest local of one of the largest unions in the country. It has the potential to be extremely influential in electoral politics. It is extremely internally undemocratic (So is MORE...my words), but there is a reform caucus, MORE, which has many active DSA members.

Demographics: UFT membership is disproportionately White (more so than the city’s demographics, and the student population) and skews majority women. This varies by job category, and by type of school. 

Disproportionally white? Like MORE? 

DSA proposal....

UFT / Teachers Union to Focus On UFT Position (optional): Classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, secretaries, nurses, social workers/counselors, OT/PTs, etc. Which criteria does this proposal meet? Economic Leverage Social / Political Leverage Barriers to Entry DSA Member Density Working Conditions Union's Internal / External Political Status Demographics 

Please cite and elaborate upon each criteria you selected for the proposed industry in the area below.

Economic Leverage: The UFT represents 75,000 classroom teachers, 19,000 paraprofessionals, and several thousand other critical categories of school support staff (including nurses, social workers, counselors, psychologists, and others). These numbers make the DOE one of the largest employers in the metro area, touching thousands, possibly millions of residents. Negotiations for citywide municipal contracts (covering all public sector workers) are generally led by the UFT and DC37 together, making our contract negotiations have an even wider reach. Beyond the raw numbers, as we have seen in Chicago, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona, and elsewhere, when education workers flex our industrial power the effects are felt way beyond just the education system. School shutdowns have nearly unparalleled potential to impact the entire regional economy, and every workplace where parents rely on the school system to care for their children.

Social/Political Leverage: With public schools located in every borough, neighborhood, and district, education workers’ social and political leverage is also potentially enormous. Teachers and other education workers see everything students and their families go through, and we can highlight issues of homelessness, economic insecurity, racism, and inadequate healthcare and educational resources. Teachers and other education workers have access to communities beyond our worksites that can build solidarity across the working class. Despite years of attacks on public education, the recent wave of education worker strikes have benefited from overwhelming displays of community solidarity. When education workers organize and fight for the common good, the public is generally with us.

 Barriers to Entry: There are very real challenges to be considered with regards to the process of becoming a teacher. It is expensive and time consuming to become a teacher. Teachers can be hired with a Bachelor’s Degree, but need to get their Master’s degree within a few years of being hired. There are alternate certification programs like Teaching Fellows, which many DSA members have and are taking advantage of. Graduate programs and certification tests cost money, but Gofundme’s for mentee teachers have been used, and could be something that we fundraise for if a large group wanted to organize around it. Unfortunately, transferring certification from out of state can cost hundreds of dollars, so while the the career can be one that travels with you, it does not do so seamlessly. Getting a Master’s while working is the path that most teachers take, and is an emotional, physical, financial strain for the first several years, since the first years of teaching are also a challenge. Teachers can gain tenure after 4-years working in the DOE. There are many different school experiences, some can be extremely difficult, but we hope that a community of supportive educators within DSA can start to help people get jobs at schools that are tolerable places to work, and help each other take on abusive administrators when we encounter them.

It should also be noted that there other routes to employment in the DOE besides classroom teaching. Paraprofessionals, occupational/physical therapists, school counselors and nurses, and school secretary jobs are other options, with different on-ramps. It is not unusual for people to begin in one of those job categories and eventually shift to classroom teaching.

DSA Member Density - Anecdotally speaking, education seems to be one of the sectors with the largest concentration of NYC DSA active union membership. The teachers’ working group meets regularly and has regular happy hours, and has already had some success encouraging and supporting DSA members in making the career switch into education. Even beyond active labor branch members, it seems possible that there could be over a hundred DSA teachers (numbers that would make our teacher membership larger than the most significant UFT reform caucus). There is a significant support network for new DSA teachers, with a large number of experienced rank and file activists and leaders in the organization.

 Working Conditions: Working conditions can vary significantly from school to school, and depend on factors of student and staff composition, strength of the local UFT chapter, and many others. Across the board it takes a long time to become a good teacher and build strong relationships at schoolboth of which are critical to be effective as an organizer. The work is tiring, emotionally draining, but for many, extremely fulfilling. It is not uncommon in your first several years to work for several hours after school with lesson planning or other responsibilities. That said, teaching can offer a great deal of autonomy and creativity in lesson planning, and allows for deep relationship building with people from a wide range of communities in the city. Generally, teaching requires you to be on your feet for several hours at a time, and often moving about constantly to check on students. Some principals can be abusive and controlling supervisors, others are relatively benign. Some buildings have issues with heat, functional facilities, mold, and other issues of disrepair. 

Union's Internal / External Political Status: The UFT is the largest local of one of the largest unions in the country, and is also one of the largest locals in NYC. Simply put, it is tremendously influential politically, but fails to exercise the full potential of its power. Its strategy rests on electing fairly centrist/conservative Democrats, and holding them to commitments on maintaining basic standards in treatment of educators. It is very internally undemocratic and top-down. There is a reform caucus, the Movement of Rank and File Educators (MORE) that shows promise and has many DSA members that participate actively. With more DSA teachers, we could bolster and significantly support the internal movement for democracy and militant organizing within the union, but it will likely take years to reform the UFT, for new teachers to gain the experience and credibility that it will take to play a meaningful role in that work, and for the landscape to shift in such a way as to be amenable to the kind of militancy and worker democracy to which we aspire.

DemographicsEducation: is a complicated sector, demographically. The student population in the DOE is majority Black and Latinx. Recent surveys have shown that 1 in 10 students experience some form of homelessness throughout the school year. In terms of the staff, overall the composition is disproportionately women and disproportionately White, out of step with the student body. However this differs in sub-sectors and different job categories. Elementary, Pre-K and Middle School skew more heavily female, High School a little more male. Paraprofessionals and other support staff are more non-White than classroom teachers. Significant systemic issues have presented challenges for the retention of teachers of color, and this will likely be an ongoing focus of some education worker organizing. That said, the leadership of the UFT is more racially diverse than might be expected based on general trends within the membership. DSA members interested in working in education should think hard about how they will relate to and work with student populations that are predominantly non-White, and should also consider how they will work with teachers of color to address the issues facing teacher retention and recruitmentthose are critical areas of solidarity and need for the broader education system. It should be acknowledged that for many New Yorkers of color, schools are the first place where they encounter law enforcement and state violence through disciplinary action. This presents a major opportunity for racial justice solidarity organizing, but also should emphasize the incredible responsibility of being a teacher in a predominantly Black and Brown school district.

I am not editorializing, other than to say it's fantastical.  I will let this manifesto speak for itself. 

Oh one more thing. DSA must not be allowed to come even close to taking over the UFT.

Alex Jallot, Pace U. HS CL, UFT Exec Bd Member, & MORE Caucus Member Desecrates the Memory of Hamas Victim Shani Louk

 Since I wrote this piece wondering whether or not Jewish UFT members should trust the Movement of
Rank and File Educators (MORE Caucus), a plethora of emails has come into the SBSB newsroom. All emails were quite supportive as well as sharing many instances in which MORE has shown itself not to be particularly enamored with Jews. 

The Crack Team has sifted through many an email. Some are from just plain cranks, other emails were with accusations that could not be verified. Many were easily verified, like the following:

This past March 30 on X, DSA member @blackredguard1 reposted a video of Shani Louk dancing moments before she was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023. We here at SBSB have deep feelings about DSA which we feel this is not the time visit.  Seriously, is anyone surprised? 

What is surprising MORE member, (OK, not really THAT surprising), a UFT Chapter Leader at Pace University High School, UFT high school executive board member. as well as a DSA member, Alex Jallot posted a reply to the reposted video. Obviously, Alex doesn't know what is posted online, stays online (Click here). 

And for when Alex deletes his X account, let's remind him of Social Media Rule #1!

All Alex had to say was...

"I'm amazed at how little rhythm these people (JEWS?) have."

Class act that Alex is. As one Crack Team member shared with me...

It's beyond the pale. How someone that professes progressive/left politics and sits on the UFT Exec board could so casually post such a callous and hurtful joke should be cause for deep concern for everyone irregardless of politics.

I am appalled. Especially reading this on one of the holiest of days. I am sure that Alex doesn't mind having these two days off thanks to the Jews. 

Hey Alex, have you shared these views with Jewish members of his chapter? If not, why? Does Pace University know your views of Jews? Have you shared your views with any Jewish members of the executive board you sit on? Can Jewish UFT members have any faith in you?

Some things need to happen. The Movement of Rank and File Educators (MORE Caucus) must immediately disassociate itself from Alex Jallot and send out a statement decrying Alex Jallot's statement. In fact, the Movement of Rank and File Educators (MORE Caucus) must immediately remove from the caucus. I, and several others, were shunned and mustered out of the Movement of Rank and File Educators (MORE Caucus) in 2018 for much, much, much much, much less.

I have no idea if the UFT can remove executive board members for cause, but if this can be done a full investigation and removal of Alex Jallot must be done posthaste. 

If the above is improbable, we here at SBSB call for Alex Jallot to immediately resign his seat on the high school executive board as well as resign as chapter leader at Pace University High School. 

This can not be tolerated. The Movement of Rank and File Educators (MORE Caucus) would be the first to come out against, as well as denounce, Mike Mulgrew for passing gas incorrectly. It's time for the Movement of Rank and File Educators (MORE Caucus) to put its money from where its mouth is. 

Should Jewish UFT Members Trust the MORE Caucus?

With the UFT elections right around the corner, MORE is as usual playing hard to get and believing that they own all the cards. Is it not time that those who wish to dance with MORE just finally, "thank you, but no"?

Is it not time to see what MORE is? MORE is nothing more that a place where anti-Israel, pro-Hamas views are not only encouraged, but have a safe place to be heard. 

What has disturbed me the most, and I am sure the many other thousands of Jewish UFT members is this photograph that appeared on the MORE Facebook page. 

So months after over a thousand Jews were murdered, over a hundred Jews were kidnapped, this is MORE's priority? MORE's priority at a Delegate Assembly was for Israel to lay down its arms? Nothing about Hamas releasing the hostages? MORE isn't concerned about the hundreds of Jewish women that have been held and raped by Hamas? 

Now before I continue, I loathe Netenyanhu and his government. I prayed that Israel would retaliate differently against Gaza. But the Jews are hurting. Israel is hurting. Bibi was enabled by Trump, Bibi caused this. But this doesn't mean that an organization like MORE must blame Israel and the Jews. 

Why isn't MORE as vocal about Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Where is MORE when college students are walking to classes and they are spat upon and called "Kikes"? They are nowhere?

What happens if MORE is somehow in power or part of the power if Unity loses? Can Jewish members of the rank and file trust the union? Can Jewish members of the UFT feel safe? Will Jewish members of the UFT have to worry about pogroms?

So many Jewish members of the UFT have a relative that was slaughtered in the Holocaust. 

I would not be surprised today if members of MORE celebrated as Iran launched 180 missiles at Israel today.

A Challenge for the UFT and NYSUT

After my July 23 blog post, a legal eagle fanboi reached out to a member of The Crack Team with a solution to the plight of those waiting years to have a hearing for their U ratings. As Mr. Brooke said the word "plastics" to Benjamin in The Graduate, this legal eagle fanboi came up with words—five words in fact—that can change history. 

Article 78, Motion to Compel

Wait, isn't Article 78 only for when you exhaust all remedies through a collective bargaining agreement? Well, no. The Crack Team did some research, and this is what was found. 

Let's look at what Article 78 is first. I have highlighted what is relevant for a motion to compel. 

1. Appeal a final administrative ruling (by a state agency or government officer) based on insufficient evidence (called Certiorari to Review);
2. Appeal a final administrative ruling (by a state agency or government officer) based on incorrect law or unreasonable nature (called Review of Mandamus);
3. Stop a state agency or government officer from acting (called a Writ of Prohibition); or
4. Force a state agency or government officer to act (called a Writ of Mandamus).

Let's start with #4, "Writ of Mandamus."

A writ of mandamus is a legal process in New York that can force a government agency or official to perform a duty required by law. For example, a writ of mandamus can be used to compel a local or state agency to perform a duty.

and...

To prevail with a writ of mandamus, counsel must establish that judicial intervention is necessary because no other adequate remedy is available. This means that the client must have first attempted to resolve the case at the agency level.

Now for all those waiting for an appeal hearing, an APPR hearing, or any other hearing in which there is no action, doesn't this not seem like a course of action the UFT should be involved in? Two teachers I wrote about on July 23 seem to have some cause, or at the very least, will have cause. 

But how many teachers are out there holding out hope against hope that their hearings will be held sometime this decade? 

Now let's have a look at #3, "Writ of Phohibition."

A writ of prohibition is a judicial order that can be used to force a government agency or official to stop doing something they shouldn't. In New York, it's also known as an Article 78 proceeding. Writs of prohibition can be used for a variety of purposes, including... Stopping an agency, court, or judge from acting outside the scope of their authority

So when a teacher is rated using the S/U instead of Advance or anything else that is not collectively bargained, would not a Writ of Prohibition seem to be in order? 

But I know what the UFT will say. Well, one of two things. One, "We aren't compelled to represent you any further," and two, "We can't do it." What if we lose?" Let's examine those two statements. 

In the past, individual teachers have been represented by the law offices of Robert Reilly. But this can be the Rosa Parks moment I have written about in the past. The UFT and NYSUT have so much cash at hand. What is there to lose?

Which brings us to...

What we always hear from the UFT is, "We might lose" or "We don't think we're going to win." I have always had a problem with those statements. Does anyone think Team USA was thinking, "What if we lose?" in 1980 against the Soviet Union? Were the Mets thinking that in 1969? The Jets in 1969? Villanova over Georgetown in 1985? None of these teams were thinking, "What if we lose?" or "We can't win." They were thinking, "We will win," "No one can stop us, and "when we win.

It's time the UFT takes a crowbar to the wallet where it is holding the millions of dollars in union dues from the rank and file two times a month and starts investing in the US, the teachers, the staff, and the communities of New York City. It is time to grab the proverbial bull by his goodies and to be proactive. 

What has being reactive gotten us? 

The Crack Team will be sitting by the phones awaiting any questions from the UFT or NYSUT.

The UFT is Hard at Work for You

A scorpion wants to cross a river but cannot swim, so it asks a frog to carry it across. The frog hesitates,
afraid that the scorpion might sting it, but the scorpion promises not to, pointing out that it would drown if it killed the frog in the middle of the river. The frog considers this argument sensible and agrees to transport the scorpion. Midway across the river, the scorpion stings the frog anyway, dooming them both. The dying frog asks the scorpion why it stung despite knowing the consequence, to which the scorpion replies, "I am sorry, but I couldn't resist the urge. It's my character."

I have had a revelation. No longer will I blame the DOE, principals, and administrators for anything that befalls teachers. They do what they do because it is their way. They are the scorpions. 

Who is at fault? It's the UFT, the Unity Caucus. The UFT are the enablers. The UFT are the culprits. Uncle Mike Mulgrew is the frog. Uncle Mike Mulgrew is the one we should turn our blame to when we are crapped on, when we are rated, when we are harassed, or when we are not treated as professionals. Or worse, when we are not treated like human beings. The silence from 52 Broadway is loud. 

I was U-rated for the 2022–23 school year. I filed an appeal immediately. June 29 of last year. I have not had my hearing yet. I have been told from the UFT in no uncertain words, "It might take another year or two." 

When I asked why, I was told, "COVID backed everything up." Wait, COVID has been done for a few years now. For two straight years, everyone and their mother got effective or satisfactory ratings. How many U-rated appeals must there be? I was met with silence from the UFT.

Even if true, isn't there, or at least there should be, some type of right to a speedy hearing? Do criminals have more rights than teachers? 

Another teacher, a teacher that is currently in a 3020a and got a U rating the same year as I did, had her U rating appeal hearing in the middle of a 3020a hearing. Yes, you read that right (more on how the hearing went at another date). 

So here we have a teacher fighting charges. This teacher in the 2021–22 school year received a developing rating, but their MOTP was ineffective. Betcha didn't know they could use that MOTP to bring you up on charges. Oh, by the way, But they nailed this teacher for two years in a row of allegedly bad teaching. 

But I have digressed. So what would happen if the teacher won their U rating appeal? Does the 3020a hearing end? Or say if there is no decision for the U rating and the arbitrator terminates the teacher and the appeal comes back in favor of the teacher? Does the teacher get their job back? Along with the back pay?

Another teacher went out on sick leave not to return this year. The teacher's leave began in the last week of February 2024. The teacher's health was in perilous condition. The teacher had been observed twice and was rated as developing the year before (2022–23).

The teacher received an email with her rating sheet at the end of June. She was U-rated. Like me, she was removed arbitrarily and capriciously from Advance and given a rating that was not deserved. Her appeal will probably be heard around 2030, before mine ever sees the light of day. 

Why does all this happen? Because the UFT-Unity allows it to happen. 

When we appeal, that should stop the clock. No further actions should be taken on 3020a's. We should be able to work per session. We should have all we should have while anything is on appeal. This is a civil rights matter. We are being denied our due process. 

The source of your hurt must no longer be directed at your administrators. Your hurt should be directed at those out of touch with reality working in the fantasy world they created at their gilded castle at 52 Broadway.