UFT's bad deal with NYC mayor

While I've taken some shots at Randi on occasion, I actually think she's among the more reasonable and progressive leaders in the teacher union ranks (not to damn her with faint praise!).  To get an idea of what she has to deal with within her own ranks, check out this screed from SocialistWorker.org, which concludes:

AFTER THE deal was announced, the UFT called an emergency delegate assembly where President Randi Weingarten argued for indefinitely postponing the May 9 rally.

Many delegates spoke from the floor against the proposal, saying that the deal still opens the door to privatization--since principals will now choose from a variety of instructional support services, including some private companies. Delegates also argued that canceling the rally would demobilize union members and make it more difficult to work together with parent groups that didn't support the deal.

As Michael Fiorillo, a chapter leader of Newcomers High School in Queens told the union newspaper, "These few crumbs thrown at us were based on the fact that they were terrified of teachers, parents and students coming together...The rug is being pulled out from under this germinating coalition."

Despite these objections, the delegate assembly, which is dominated by Weingarten's UNITY caucus, voted overwhelmingly to cancel the rally.

While this is a setback for union members committed to mobilizing against Bloomberg and Klein's latest attack on schools and teachers, it also demonstrates the need for more rank-and-file organization within our union to put pressure on the leadership to fight for our rights and our schools.

The opposition caucuses within the union will have a role to putting forward a strategy for mobilizing to stop the attacks on public education.

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UFT's bad deal with NYC mayor

May 4, 2007 | Page 11

http://www.socialistworker.org/2007-1/630/630_11_UFT.shtml

UFT member MEGAN BEHRENT analyzes the agreement on a school restructuring plan.

NEW YORK--The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced a deal last week on Bloomberg's planned reorganization of the city's public schools.