tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025948832913694345.post5151856408974322260..comments2024-03-22T02:15:56.280-07:00Comments on Jersey Jazzman: Newark vs. ChicagoDukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16535645107179796099noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025948832913694345.post-62121663204763104042012-11-22T11:56:36.370-08:002012-11-22T11:56:36.370-08:00I think many locals have gotten fat and lazy in NJ...I think many locals have gotten fat and lazy in NJ. I heard one local president say he is not interested in an adversarial relationship with admin. Another said that a written reprimand in your file was nothing to be upset about and it is fine to take the word of a student over the word of an adult. <br /><br />This causes many teachers to have no respect for local leadership and they feel that the local leadership is more of a social function than actual leaders that will go toe to toe against admin and local BOE. <br /><br />Not saying any specific local or leaders, but just conversation with teachers across the state. When the same story is repeated by several teachers in a district, I see it as good evidence that these stories are true Rod viquezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04766995678089900031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025948832913694345.post-75883201020322021792012-11-21T19:46:38.473-08:002012-11-21T19:46:38.473-08:00Ms Teacher-Here are a few solid resources on the i...Ms Teacher-Here are a few solid resources on the issue of activating and sustaining participatory member involvement. As a rank and file activist organizing colleagues and parents, I was able to adapt these resources and methodologies to our local needs. The Labor Notes publications also include a decent amount of very useful guides for activating members as a progressive officer as well:<br /><br />https://store.labornotes.org/books/democracy-is-power.html<br /><br />https://store.labornotes.org/books.html<br /><br />http://www.winmoreunionorganizingdrives.comMarkFriedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01250073990394906021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025948832913694345.post-4571395252004227602012-11-21T13:55:49.154-08:002012-11-21T13:55:49.154-08:00What you are describing sounds horrible, NewarkTFA...What you are describing sounds horrible, NewarkTFA. It is not the way it should be. I have had been vocal in my opposition to some of the positions my state and national union has taken on some of the issues. What I have always tried to convey to the members I represent locally in the past two ratification votes is that the power is ultimately in their hands. If they don't like an agreement, they should vote it down. This at least sends the message to the district that membership has spoken. ms-teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07800541997565774872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025948832913694345.post-44861376623573660162012-11-21T11:10:52.544-08:002012-11-21T11:10:52.544-08:00As a proud member of both NTU and NEWCaucus, I mus...As a proud member of both NTU and NEWCaucus, I must say that I believe that Joseph Del Grosso and some (not all) of the people he has hired bear some (not all) of the responsibility for apathy within the racks of the NTU.<br /><br />Based on Mr. Del Grosso's remarks and behavior at various union meetings I have attended, I do not believe he wants us to be actively involved in our union, in politics, or in education policy.<br /><br />For example, at the large membership meeting before the vote, he told a teacher who disagreed with him reagrding the merits of the evaulation system upon which the contract hinges, "I'll meet you outside." <br /><br />Some (not all) union employess show similar contempt for the membership. At a meeting in my building a couple of years ago, the union's lawyer told a teacher who was complaining about out lack of a positive, pro-teacher publicity campaign to counteract Christie's very successful teacher-bashing, "Toughen up." <br /><br />A couple of years ago, Randi Weingarten attended one of our membership meetings. At that meeting, Mr. Del Grosso made threatening remarks, leapt from the stage, and raced into the audience as if to assualt Jose Velasquez, who was running against him to be union president. Ms. Weingarten leapt into Mr. Del Grosso's path, spreading her arms and saying, "No, no, we don't want to do that," as if she were a lunchroom monitor trying to prevent a fight.<br /><br />Yes, NTU members need to be more active, more involved. But those of us who are active have to insults, intimidation, and outright threats from our own so-called leaders.NewarkTFAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11673599595544347180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025948832913694345.post-68695976669128369982012-11-21T09:44:50.763-08:002012-11-21T09:44:50.763-08:00I absolutely believe it is a symptom, but I strugg...I absolutely believe it is a symptom, but I struggle with how to to defeat it. I haven't figured out how to get the people I represent to get pissed off enough to do something about our miserable working conditions & the lack of respect we receive from the district.<br /><br />Part of my frustration also stems from the lack of support from the state union. This is also felt by membership and too often, we are left wondering why the majority of our dues goes to the NEA and our state affiliate and we get so little in return.ms-teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07800541997565774872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025948832913694345.post-6998599579043482672012-11-21T04:38:32.648-08:002012-11-21T04:38:32.648-08:00ms, I hear you. I have no doubt about your work et...ms, I hear you. I have no doubt about your work ethic or abilities. I know what it's like to deal with apathy.<br /><br />But we have to be honest with ourselves: is the fault ENTIRELY with membership? Could it be apathy is a symptom, and not a cause?<br />Dukehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16535645107179796099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025948832913694345.post-31405790956745797002012-11-20T20:43:40.254-08:002012-11-20T20:43:40.254-08:00As a local union leader, the dilemma I face is one...As a local union leader, the dilemma I face is one of apathy. It makes me wonder if the local leaders felt that even if the contract was voted down would they have support of membership to strike if necessary?<br /><br />In my local last year, I kept getting calls and e-mails, and had conversations surrounding the safety of our campuses. Many of the teachers I spoke to demanded that the union DO something. So, my first step was to hold a forum so that we could determine what exactly membership was willing to do. <br /><br />Even though it was well publicized, we had at most 100 teachers out of 800 show up. The most complaints I received were from middle school & high school teachers, and yet, of those 100 teachers about a handful were secondary teachers.<br /><br />I keep asking myself what will it take to get the people I represent engaged in the process. Perhaps leadership in Newark felt the same way. Why didn't 1845 members vote either for or against the contract? Why did they choose to sit this one out? Maybe that is what the Newark leadership saw and realized that pushing to the next step really could have been worse - facing the unknown, rather than what was "known" about this agreement. <br /><br />Unions are made up of people and the leadership is only as strong as the people who are standing behind them. ms-teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07800541997565774872noreply@blogger.com