Thank You Wimps

I want to thank all the sheep teachers who followed the party line and voted YES for a contract that fills my pockets and does nothing to harm me.

You listened to the UNITY people who bullied you into voting yes, scaring you, telling you this is the best contract you will get.  You were so afraid to go to the end of the negotiating line you took the first thing offered.   Don't whine when you suddenly find yourself a teacher without a school, an ATR and end up with two Principals who don't like you and then on the unemployment line.  A teacher once told me she had no fear of ever becoming an ATR as her Principal loved her.  Well, her "lover" retired and the new leadership academy Principal was not so enamored.  She is now awaiting a hearing to determine if she can keep her job or not.

I'll be spending the next few weeks thinking about how I will spend my money.  I retired in 2011 so I get 4% and then another 4% compounded, plus my pension is recalculated and I get retro money on that and of course my base pension will increase too.  I guess you don't mind letting the city hold your money for another 6 years or so and you don't mind being forced to stay at a job you would like to leave.  And definitely don't cry if you don't last the wait to collect and you get nothing.

I always found most of the teachers I worked with to be wimps.  They bitched and complained but when it came to standing up, they never did.  They waited for someone else to speak and offered no support if that person fell down.

I feel for those who had the sense to vote no.  There are not enough teachers with backbone.

I had everything to gain with this contract, nothing to lose and I urged every teacher to vote no.  I don't want extra dollars that come at the expense of others.  You have all voted.  I will spend my windfall thinking of you.

Real Losers

I have a friend who is a fantastic teacher.  He is bright, worked hard and cares for his students.  Unfortunately his Principal did not like him.  Long story short, he ended up being sent to a rubber room where he spent 5 months and then, without even being told what he was being charged with, all charges were dropped and he became an ATR.

Friend has worked in various schools.  In each, he strived to do his best.  He cared about the kids.  But a big red R was branded on his forehead and no matter how many kids he reached he was never good enough for the administration of the schools where he worked.

Friend is disillusioned and is retiring this year.  He's taken enough abuse to last multiple lifetimes and he has had enough.  He's still being abused by his Principal but he's Teflon now and has told the evil bastard to bring on the "U".  The newbies in the school have been told to stay away from him.  The only people in the school talking to him are custodians, school guards and cafeteria workers, the ones the Principal cannot control.  It doesn't bother him since these are the real people, the ones he connects to.

The school system is losing an experienced, caring educator, one who has made a difference and would be continuing to make a difference if the system permitted.  His school administration and the city are winning as they are getting rid of another senior teacher.   He is winning because he will be able to collect a nice pension for the rest of his life.  The kids are losing but no one really cares about them.  Schools are a business and kids don't show profits.

Vote No

A colleague was hurt at work and needs union help getting a leave to heal.  He has written e-mail after e-mail and made call after call.  After 4 months he is no closer to a resolution than he was on day one.

The UFT reps are so busy pushing this contract they have no time or interest in doing anything else.  I was told to not talk about the contract and ATRs at the medical because teachers in the room were upset enough and there was no need to inform them about a contract that could only hurt.

I know our union is better than no union and I am still proud of being a card carrying UFT member but our union needs to be shaken up quite a bit.  A contract that hurts some is worse than no contract at all.  A union that minimizes a member's problems and thinks a pat on the back or a hug is enough is not doing what it should to earn our money and our support.

Teachers Contract Hurts Unionism

From Today's Newsday