In retiree annual meetings all over the country and in the greater New York area, a single theme has predominated: concern for in-service members. We always discuss how they are doing and the horrendous conditions that have been imposed on them by the Bloomberg administration.

Beginning with former chancellor Joel Klein, Mayor Michael Bloomberg set out to undermine the ability of teachers to educate today’s children as well as to destroy the union safeguards that have supported our teaching profession on behalf of those students.

An example I often cite is the obsessive stress on teaching to standardized tests as a lockstep mandate. Do you remember the time in your classroom when, as a professional, you capitalized on an unexpected teachable moment or when you did some enrichment by bringing in a poem, movie, or science example you saw on TV or took some time to discuss a relevant sports event or had a speaker on local history? The kids loved it, you loved it and the next day you went back to the regular curriculum.

Today, you’re liable to be brought up on charges!

The attempt to have a purely quantifiable teacher evaluation system based on student test-taking is another example. How do you measure the devotion involved in the little extra concern that you showed for students in need? You probably did it without even telling your supervisor about it, let alone expecting to be evaluated on it.

In addition, our colleagues have been working without a contract since 2009. The Bloomberg years have been so hostile to labor that not a single municipal union has a contract right now, a situation UFT President Michael Mulgrew noted is “unprecedented.” UFT negotiations moved from early impasse to failed mediation and are now at fact-finding.

The mayor is suddenly offering to strike a deal that would include no retroactive pay and require workers and retirees to contribute to health benefit costs and to quit smoking, lose weight and make other healthy lifestyle choices.

“I think what’s going on here,” Mulgrew observed, “is the mayor doesn’t like the idea that he’ll be the only mayor ever to leave office where every single municipal union is without a contract and he just made this maneuver to cover his backside.”

With so many issues facing educators today, the question that always comes up at meetings is: How can we help our colleagues in their struggles to maintain what we built and what we now receive our benefits from?

One major way that we can help is to join in solidarity and support the June 12 rally.

FAIR CONTRACTS FOR ALL RALLY
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12 — 4 to 6 p.m.
CITY HALL PARK

This is a rally with unprecedented support from every municipal union without a city contract. It is future-oriented with a sub-theme: WORKERS COUNT, WORKERS VOTE.

No meaningful restoration of the school system and our profession or respect for the collective-bargaining rights of public employees in this town can take place without a new, sympathetic mayor and other elected officials.

This is a “message” rally in the tradition of when we marched over the Brooklyn Bridge in 1975 to get the city’s attention. Let’s stand up to the current mayor and put the next one on notice that we will work “Together for a Stronger New York.”

Need more motivation? Say over and over again: Joel Klein, Cathie Black, Dennis Walcott, Michael Bloomberg.

There is an old Irish saying: “We’ll be happy to see the back of you.” Let’s help show them the exit. Participate in this important rally.

Please save the date. More information will be coming soon.