General News
Three resolutions approved
Nov 1, 2007 4:50 PM
Even with the bulk of the Oct. 17 Delegate Assembly’s time taken over by the report, debate and vote on the union’s breakthrough agreement with the city [see Sept. 20 issue] to support 55/25 and a two-year voluntary schoolwide bonus pilot program in a limited number of the city’s high-needs public schools, there was still time for resolutions.
Vice President for Elementary Schools Michelle Bodden introduced a resolution which passed unanimously, reaffirming the AFT’s statement deploring the Jena 6 outrage, insisting that school discipline be applied impartially, calling upon the Justice Department to intercede, and “call[ing] upon its members throughout the nation to continue to take a proactive stance in support of tolerance, fairness and justice in our schools and the communities in which they exist.”
In addition, delegates voted unanimously to initiate a new Teacher Union Day award that would recognize schools that created partnerships between administrators and educators.
The body also endorsed, with virtually no opposition, the Oct. 27 demonstration to Bring the Troops Home [see “UFTers march against Iraq war” below], while agreeing to join “with the New York City labor contingent and mobilize for this event,” and publicize the union’s support “in the New York Teacher, the UFT Web site and at all union meetings.”
Beach Channel HS Chapter Leader David Pecoraro moved that the November DA’s calendar include his proposal to “oppose the Bush administration’s violation of checks and balances” by commending and welcoming the work of an unlikely ally, the conservative “Freedom Agenda.” Pecoraro called it “an organization of conservatives with which we disagree on most other issues, [but that] has launched a campaign to restore habeas corpus, forbid the use of torture and extraordinary renditions, and prohibit unconstitutional wiretaps and warrantless searches.”
Retiree Norma Hart opposed the measure, which in a similar form was defeated at the Sept. 24 Executive Board meeting, saying that while she, too, opposed the Bush administration tactics, “the issue is whether to join with a conservative organization that opposes unions and I don’t see the need to waste valuable time hearing about this group.” The motion to consider failed.
Peter Lamphere, Bronx HS of Science delegate, moved that the UFT should take the lead in fighting No Child Left Behind and should “initiate, organize and build among our sister teacher union locals a nationwide demonstration and protest” in Washington, DC. The demonstration would target the threat to defund schools that refused to institute merit-pay schemes. It would also criticize representatives on both sides of the congressional aisles who would incorporate the mandate into a reauthorized No Child Left Behind law.
“We need to address whether the federal government will demand that schools close that don’t adopt merit pay,” he said of the demonstration that would “focus public attention on our powerful arguments against merit pay based on testing, and demonstrate to our elected representatives the strength and resolve of our opposition to this provision.” Arguments were made to defeat the motion, given that this is a national matter.
UFT President Randi Weingarten urged a Solomon-like compromise, suggesting the matter be referred to the AFT, the UFT’s national union, as one of the steps to consider in the campaign the union is now pursuing to fix NCLB. The motion’s maker preferred an immediate vote. The body then rejected the demonstration. Weingarten said she would still refer the issue to the AFT.
