If you are one that frequents this site often, you may have seen the Unity caucus application. It’s an interesting item, but what is disturbing about the application is that it states, in no uncertain terms, that the caucus is more important than the Chapter, and the entire union. For example:
“Support the decisions of the caucus and the Union leadership elected from the caucus.”
And,
“Support in Union elections those individuals who are endorsed by the caucus.”
And similarly,
“Actively seek chapter leadership positions particularly when they are held by opposition caucus members.”
How are we to trust and accept leadership that demands that you mindlessly support the “leadership elected from the caucus”? What if that Unity leadership sucks? What if they constantly return poor contracts and provide less than acceptable services?
Why would you support individuals “endorsed by the caucus” if they are ineffective or inept? I guess being part of the caucus must be a good enough reason. Apparently incompetent Unity is better than competent Independents, or anyone else for that matter.
Finally, if someone other than a Unity member is in a “chapter leadership position,” you must oppose them. Why? Once again, effectiveness, militancy, and leadership do not matter; only being a Unity member matters. It’s a club: a special club. Kind of like an old boy’s club, but not exactly. It discourages criticism. It fosters cliques. It functions to further its own ends, not those of the members. It squelches opposition in any way possible. It fights against reform. If you’re Unity, though, it is more important than being UFT.
And that is the entire problem.
Some got to see the Unity cult work out their machinations in schools during recent chapter elections. It’s Unity tactics in microcosm. While we, in our school, have grown accustomed to our Unity person’s antics (removing material from mailboxes, taking flyers down off bulletin boards, spreading lies with slander and gossip, etc.), we saw it taken to the next Unity level.
We have a very aggressive, militant CL that defends our rights (what few we have left) and happens, on occasion, to be very critical of Unity. He replaced a CL that did nothing and was in bed with the Administration. He ran for his position again and won handily. The slate was also filled with candidates for the open Delegate positions, too, because democracy and a new energy had taken hold of our place: people saw what could be done. The exiting Unity Delegate in our school, though, did not run for any office (apparently breaking the Unity rule). Instead, she urged the staff (in a poorly written newsletter) to vote for anyone but the incumbent CL and Delegate. In fact, the Unity Delegate went so far as to recommend someone (an Independent) that they had never spoken a word to in their life.
But all this was typical. The Unity Delegate had for years done what they pleased. They had voted what they wanted, or what they were told, at the DA. They had never reported to the staff in writing, or at chapter meetings, what was said at the DA. They had anonymity and apathy: two things that they seem to enjoy most, because it allows them to feed unfettered.
At the school level and at the city level, Unity encourages apathy so they may continue to do what they wish with your dues. They are unaccountable and unrelenting in their avarice, lies and failures. They spin their lies with the ferocity of a dervish, and make the DOE look like rank amateurs.
