Isn't your blog listed on ICE-UFT's website? (Please enlighten me on the legalities of listing others on personal websites/blogs.)
I discovered UTP a few days ago and thought nothing of it. ICE-UFT really got my attention. Their website nearly rationalizes the Chancellor's supposed "Union Buster" mentality.
Caucus' of that nature hurt both the UFT and the CSA.
I can't give legal advice, but you're certainly entitled to criticize free speech. That's your right. Personally, though, like the folks who wrote that Bill of Rights, I think it's healthy, and indispensable if we're to have any semblance of democracy.
I support democracy, even within labor unions. The UFT leadership thinks people outside of the majority party deserve no voice whatsoever, and that dues should sustain the 50-year rule of Unity. It also thinks high school teachers, a majority of whom fail to support Unity, are therefore unfit to choose their own academic VPs. It's changed the UFT constitution, in fact, to make sure they can't. I strongly disagree.
I consequently support ICE, and I'm proud they chose to list me on their website. Your contention that their caucus somehow rationalizes union-busting is utterly unsupported.
I guess I have a lot more to learn about UFT, despite my past membership.
Sorry if this is a little off topic, but I tried to sign up and post a reply twice on Edwize just a few days ago (negative towards UNITY, no surprise there) and both times my posts mysteriously never showed up. Further they erased my name and password both times. I joined under my blogname (unitymustgo) and they wiped it, and then I tried a new more neutral name and its been wiped too! I swear my post was not overly ranting or potty mouthed. Interestingly my post was about exactly this, how UNITY doesn't really try to represent all teachers by allowing freedom of speech within or about the UFT, but rather only self-promotes and blocks all alternative views to their Unity party self-serving line of thinking. Just more proof of how UNITY thwarts alternative views.
Gee, when is your next Carnival, cause I have a funny suspicion that Edwize won't advertise it again? But for the life of me, I can't figure out why.
Schoolgal,
I'll have a back-to-school carnival September 5th. I know many of my colleagues will be weeping copiously and therefore unable to read.
But sometimes a man (or woman) has to make the supreme sacrifice and go to work. I can't tell you what a luxury it's been to have this summer off for the first time in many years.
I find it flattering that Edwize chooses not to mention me by name, and wouldn't mention the carnival was here till three weeks after it appeared. That says a lot about them--though they won't lower themselves to respond to my comments, it shows they're paying attention, as does Casey's ostensible anti-Nazi crusade.
Unitymustgo,
This blog doesn't belong to Unity, and you're free to say whatever you like here. I suggest you call the UFT and complain that you're being excluded from the blog that you pay for, by the people whose salaries you pay.
They stopped blocking me immediately after I complained. That's the nature of bullies.
Please get back to us and let us know the results.
I want to thank Leo, and Unity, for the freedom that I enjoy every damn day.
Oh, by the way, if you want a "back to school carnival" then you had better aim for August 31 because that's what Leo and Unity have arranged for us.
My goodness they're good to us!
They intimate that I'm a Nazi, AND send me to work in August! All for my dues!
I'm not worthy!
I would like to see where NYC Supervisor saw how the ICE web site rationalizes the BloomKlein anti-union philosophy? We do print a variety of views. People who have been involved in ICE at all different levels have a wide divergence of opinions and we bend over backwards to be the anti-Unity by hearing everyone. But I can say that not one person that has come through ICE doesn't condemn BloomKlein to the fullest extent. Indeed, some of them have been victims of the anti-union philosophy.
(Read Mary Hoffman's piece on the leadership academy for an interesting take on Jack Welch.)
Our focus has been on reforming the UFT because that is the only forum where we can have an impact. The Unity/UFT leadership played a role in bringing us BloomKlein and they negotiated these anti-union contracts.
As to the CSA, I am NOT a fan as it is so many of their members who have been the cause of so much misery to UFT people. I feel the UFT has been way to beneficent towards them.
As for me, I can't wait to sit around August 31st and listen to Klein's minions tell us what a great job they're doing and how incompetent we all are.
It was very slick of the UFT to give away the Labor Day weekend for less than cost of living. There aren't many negotiators who could've done that.
Or perhaps it just escaped their attention while they were battling the Nazis.
I would like to apologize for any and all of my prior statements. Given the the fact that I am greatly outnumbered, I do not feel I can partake in these cowardly discussions any further.
I call them cowardly because they are all anonymous. Since I do not really know with whom I am conversing with, and the educational reputation that you have earned, I am obligated to remain anonymous as well. (Yes, that would make me a coward.)
Therefore, I do hope that one day I am able to meet such interesting educators, as yourselves, face-to-face and partake in enriching discussions involving educational politics.
This has been an extremely stimulating experience for me, and I am far better off having met my new blogger constituants. I wish you all well. Happy blogging!
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