The arbitrator’s decision on the lump sum is not ideal, but nothing is ideal in the era of COVID-19. Let’s face the fact that New York City is broke! We are lucky to even get 50% at this time — thanks to smart union leadership for ensuring that arbitration was included in the negotiations when the deal was made years ago.
We’re all hurting right now, but when we see the families of our students and the communities we serve going through this tough time, a little more sacrifice on our part is not too much to ask. We are NYC Strong — the greatest city in the world!
Remember who we were before COVID-19; how we raised ourselves up from the ashes of 9/11 and how we stayed afloat during Hurricane Sandy. Now look back just a few months to how in less than a week we transitioned 1.1 million students from in-person classrooms to remote classrooms; look at how hard we fought to flatten the curve and brought the daily COVID-related death rate from over a thousand to single digits.
We have to stay strong together in order to keep The city that never sleeps alive. You don’t bite the hands that feed you because you’re hungry. Our subway trains are less crowded not because of social distancing, but mostly because a lot of city dwellers do not have jobs. We are some of the lucky ones — we’re alive and still have our jobs. I think that should be counted as a blessing. Our union is strongest when our city is stronger.
Elizabeth Kollue, PS 89, Manhattan
(via Facebook)
In a pandemic where people are losing jobs and lives, I’m thankful for having both (even when the job seems thankless) and I’m thankful to have support ... even when the circumstances aren’t ideal. Chalking this up to a win. Thanks UFT.
Stephanie J. Podhany, PS 100, Queens
(via Facebook)
I haven’t been too happy with some of the settlements agreed upon during this crazy time, but it is just that — a crazy time, unprecedented, unpredictable and unbelievably tragic. That said, it is impossible to please everyone or even attempt to make everything equitable, even in the best of times. On this particular matter, I’d like to say thank you to Mr. Mulgrew for really coming through for us with a compromise that I think we can all live with.
Jennifer Agro, PS 135, Queens
(via Facebook)